Meth bust called the largest in Branch County

BRANCH COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – Authorities in Branch County say they have recorded their biggest meth bust ever.

Deputies went to a home on Kinter Road in Mattheson Township to serve a drug warrant, and they say they found a massive operation. Deputies say 16 different one-pot meth labs were found in the home and six people were arrested, aged 17 to 39.

The Sheriff's Department says they did not find any active labs when they served the warrant, but investigators believe the operation had existed for several weeks or perhaps even months.

"I'm amazed," said neighbor Kim Stump, "I'm amazed and saddened."

Stump had only recently returned to West Michigan when she awoke Sunday morning to quite the scene.

"Then I noticed the white suits and all that stuff and seen them take tons and tons of stuff out of the front of the house," said Stump.

The Branch County Sheriff's Department took eight people into custody and inside the home next to Stump's, found a meth operation spread just about everywhere.

"For Branch County, this is the largest I've seen," said Sgt. Robin Swartz of the Branch County Sheriff's Department.

Investigators say they found 16 used one-pot meth labs and enough meth-making material to fill a dozen garbage bags.

"As I approached the residence, I was immediately overcome by the chemical smell," said Sgt. Swartz.

"There was big baggies, like sandwich baggies, and it looked like snowballs in there," said Stump.

Until Stump saw the evidence, she didn't know it was meth, just that the activity next door was strange.

"I know Saturday night, every ten or fifteen minutes, there was a new car in the driveway," said Stump.

The Sheriff's Department also says they found marijuana, ammo, and one gun inside the home.

The Sheriff's Department says that they found two large fire extinguishers inside the home as well as evidence that a fire had been put out at the residence.

Officials also say that a 13 year old was living in the home. They say they found meth-making materials or evidence of meth use in every room of the home except the one that the 13 year old slept in.