PALMDALE, CA – What began as a routine response to an illegal dumping report quickly led Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputies to a massive, sophisticated clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Palmdale.
The Discovery
Deputies were dispatched to an area near 110th Street East and Avenue M-8 to investigate reports of illegal dumping. While examining the scene, they uncovered a large-scale operation dedicated to manufacturing and distributing narcotics across the Antelope Valley.
In total, authorities seized more than 800 pounds of methamphetamine in both liquid and crystal forms from the location.
Suspect Arrested
Following the discovery, law enforcement officials arrested 22-year-old Alejandro Hernandez Gutierrez, a resident of Mexico. Gutierrez was booked on charges related to the manufacturing of a controlled substance.
LASD Narcotics Bureau Captain Bobby Dean emphasized the unpredictable nature of police work, stating that what appeared to be a routine call quickly evolved into the dismantling of a sophisticated criminal enterprise capable of producing massive quantities of narcotics.
How To Provide Tips
The investigation remains active as detectives work to uncover the full scope of the distribution network.
- Contact: LASD Narcotics Bureau
- Phone: 562-946-7125
