Two men, identified as Mexican nationals, were taken into custody following a massive drug operation bust in north Houston, an interagency collaboration spearheaded by the DEA in partnership with local law enforcement has revealed. The DEA Houston Division, working with Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, announced yesterday the disruption of a meth lab where authorities seized methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $2 million.
According to Click2Houston, "Clan meth labs are like ticking time bombs and have no place in our communities," per a post from the DEA Houston. Ogg also revealed that the suspects, Sebastian Valencia, 33, and Abraham Hernandez, 34, face charges of possession with intent to deliver over 400 grams of methamphetamine. In their statement, local authorities emphasized the dangerous nature of meth labs and the risks they pose to neighboring communities.
The operation took place at a home off Veterans Memorial Drive, structured as a duplex, leaving neighbors unaware of the illicit activities taking place adjacent to their living spaces. The bust yielded 31 kilos of raw meth and 80 gallons of liquid meth, the latter of which could produce nearly 400 pounds of the drug. "Those labs are like ticking bombs, they can explode any second, any minute and kill innocent people," noted DEA Houston Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux in an interview with KHOU.
Comeaux called the site a "methamphetamine conversion lab" and underscored the volatile nature of these setups, which adds to the dangerous potential they carry. It has been reported that the arrested individuals are undocumented, Valencia and Hernandez are due to make a court appearance on Thursday, according to statements from Ogg. This year alone, the DEA has reported busting close to 25 meth labs in the Houston area, reflecting a persistent problem with drug trafficking and production in the region.
