A Laurinburg man has been arrested for operating a methamphetamine lab, the first documented in Scotland County, authorities say.
After reports of suspicious activity at 20340 Old Lumberton Road, the Scotland County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation of the property, noting chemical smells and other “indicators that were consistent with methamphetamine production,” according to Narcotics Investigator Earl Haywood.
On Thursday, the State Bureau of Investigation was called in to search the property, finding all equipment and ingredients required for the production of methamphetamine, investigators say.
An undisclosed amount of methamphetamine was also seized, and will be analyzed by the SBI at a later date, according to investigators.
“During that search several additional items were seized form the property that are consistent to methamphetamine being manufactured inside that dwelling at some point,” Haywood said. “At that point the items that were seized that were chemically based were destroyed by the SBI under the SBI’s protocol for methamphetamine destruction.”
The property owner, 44-year-old Charles Anthony Locklear, turned himself in Monday night and was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, two counts of possession of an immediate chemical precursor to manufacture methamphetamine, maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of manufacturing a controlled substance, possession with intent to sell, deliver, and manufacture a Schedule IV narcotic, and manufacturing of a Schedule IV controlled substance, all of which are felonies.
Locklear was also charged with one count of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and further charges may be pending based upon further SBI investigation.
He was placed under a $72,500 bond.
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