(July 3, 2004) -- LBPD has seized a major, clandestine alleged methamphetamine laboratory in the 1400 block of east 11th St. on July 1, ultimately arresting five suspects.

In a written release, LBPD says its Narcotics Detectives were looking into possible drug activity in an apartment, served a search warrant at approximately 9:00 p.m. and detained (and later arrested) a suspect, a 29 year old LB man.

"When detectives entered he apartment they discovered a large-scale clandestine laboratory that was in the process of producing large quantities of methamphetamine," the release says

LBPD Sgt. Paul LeBaron (familiar to our readers as a Public Information Officer, now with the Narcotics Detail) credits Detective Greg Roberts with preparing the search warrant.

LBPD says the alleged lab had the capacity to produce over 30 lbs. of finished meth that would have a street value of roughly $900,000. In adddition to confiscating the clandestine alleged lab, LBPD says Detectives also seized approiximately six pounds of finished methamphetamine, two cars, instruments used in weighing and manufacturing the narcoritcs and a large sum of money.

A meth lab is explosive and potentially very dangerous, Sgt. LeBaron told us...and LBFD assisted LBPD in evacuating building tenants.

After serving the search warrant and detaining one suspect, LBPD Detectives pursued their investigation, locating and arresting four more suspects (all from Oregon) in Anaheim in connection with the alleged meth lab.