Executive Summary
- DEA agents arrested three Mexican nationals operating a meth lab in a Brookhaven backyard.
- Authorities seized 100 pounds of liquid meth in concrete and 50 liters of solution.
- The operation is linked to a prior record-breaking seizure of 2,370 pounds of meth in celery.
- Suspects are charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — Federal agents have arrested three Mexican nationals for allegedly operating a clandestine methamphetamine conversion laboratory in the backyard of a residential property, according to officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
The operation unfolded when Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents executed a search warrant at a Brookhaven home. According to court documents, agents discovered Jose Angel Cortes Raquel and Christian Martinez Larumbe Dominguez allegedly processing methamphetamine inside a tent erected in the backyard. Authorities stated that Cortes Raquel attempted to flee the scene during the raid but was apprehended shortly after.
During the search, investigators reportedly seized approximately 100 pounds of liquid methamphetamine, which had been mixed and concealed within concrete, along with an additional 50 liters of liquid meth solution. A third suspect, Sergio Cortes-Nieto, was taken into custody earlier that day at a nearby storage facility where police allege he was also involved in the conversion process.
“This lab was operating in a backyard, in close proximity to families and children,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. Chung emphasized that the disregard for human life was unacceptable and reaffirmed the agency’s priority to protect the public from the impact of illegal drug manufacturing.
Federal prosecutors have linked this operation to a record-breaking seizure of 2,370 pounds of methamphetamine found concealed in celery boxes at the Atlanta State Farmer’s Market in Forest Park. Investigators allege that Cortes Raquel coordinated that specific drug delivery. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg described the operation as an audacious attempt by cartels to embed themselves in suburban neighborhoods.
The three suspects, identified by authorities as citizens of Mexico present in the United States illegally, have been charged with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. They have since appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge. It is important to note that all individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Operational Implications
The discovery of a conversion lab within a suburban residential zone highlights a strategic shift in transnational criminal organizations attempting to localize the final stages of drug processing to evade border detection of finished products. The connection between this residential lab and the massive commercial shipment seized at the farmer’s market suggests a highly organized logistics network operating within the metro Atlanta area. Law enforcement agencies are likely to intensify scrutiny on similar residential anomalies and storage facilities as part of the broader “Operation Take Back America” initiative aimed at dismantling cartel infrastructure.
