Local and federal agents dismantled a South Hall County methamphetamine conversion lab and arrested two men for trafficking the drug.
The Gainesville/Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad, Homeland Security Investigations, and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a joint investigation targeting the lab and distribution site. On Feb. 3, they moved in on the site, located in the 4000 block of Peachtree Drive in Buford.
The DEA’s Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Team executed a federal search warrant at the house. According to Hall County Sheriff’s spokesperson Derreck Booth they found numerous containers filled with methamphetamine oil and some filled with paint and meth oil.
Agents arrested Gerardo Valencia-Cervantes, 29, of Deland, Florida, and Ismael Marin-Urbina, 36, of Jonesboro, Georgia, at the home without incident. Each is charged with trafficking methamphetamine.
“According to the preliminary investigation, the drug trafficking organization transported methamphetamine-infused paint to the house, where the drug was extracted,” says Booth. “Criminals would then convert the oil into a solid crystal form for distribution and sale to users.”
Agents recovered enough methamphetamine oil to equate to approximately 60 kilograms of methamphetamine worth approximately $6 million on the street.
Both suspects remained in the Hall County Jail without bond on Friday, Feb. 5. The case remains under investigation by all three agencies.
