Sheriff’s deputies from three counties helped to uncover what is thought to be a "fairly large" methamphetamine production laboratory southwest of Arkansas City in Sumner County, officials said Monday.
Around 4 p.m. Thursday, Sumner County authorities were contacted to assist officers from Kay County, Okla. in an effort to recover stolen property, according to a report from the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office.
Two trailers reported stolen were quickly discovered on the property and owners of the property consented to an additional search of the property. The search turned up numerous items associated with the manufacture of meth, according to the report.
Cowley County Sheriff Don Read said deputies here were called to assist as the suspected meth lab was being processed because people began showing up at the property as the investigation was conducted.
"From what I understand it they were dealing with what is believed to be a fairly large meth lab," he said. "And we assisted at the scene."
Read said the home in question was in the 1700 block of E. 200th Street S., and located near the Sumner-Cowley County line and near the stateline.
Five individuals contained in two vehicles were detained for a period of time while they were identified and voluntary searches were conducted on the vehicles. All the people were later released pending further investigation.
Efforts to process the suspected meth lab were suspended on Thursday due to nightfall. Overnight security was established at the scene to protect the integrity of the scene.?
On Friday, numerous items associated with the manufacture of meth were seized and processed by officers of the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.?
Samples of various chemicals, compounds and various pieces of other equipment were obtained and materials were disposed of by a hazardous materials contractor.
Additional suspected stolen property was also seized on Friday by officers of the Kay County Sheriff’s Office.
Charges are pending awaiting further investigation and analysis of the evidence seized.
An approximate location of the residence is shown on the map below:
