A hash oil lab and marijuana grow were discovered inside two homes in La Mesa Thursday, according to federal officials. The illegal operation was taking place just two doors down from an in-home day care and preschool.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Narcotics Task Force (NTF) served a search warrant on Harbinson Avenue, south of El Cajon Boulevard and east of 70th Street.
DEA officials say they found a “sophisticated closed loop system to extract hash oil” along with approximately 250 marijuana plants located inside two homes on one parcel of land.
This operation was larger than most marijuana grows and more high tech, according to one DEA agent who asked not to be identified.
The suspects had tanks of butane, an odorless, colorless and highly flammable gas that could have killed or hurt a large number of people, the agent said. Even a little static on clothing could have caused it to ignite.
Any mishap could do harm to an entire neighborhood as compared to an explosion inside a meth lab, which can injure or kill the person using the equipment, he said.
So crews with the La Mesa Fire Department and San Diego County HazMat were called in to help shut down the system safely.
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Agents say they seized a “large amount” of hash oil and a number of clone plants.
Three people were taken into custody. Their names have not been released. One vehicle was impounded.
The Center for Young Imaginations, a day care, is operated out of a home just two doors away. One of the employees told NBC 7 her family has lived in the area for many years and news of this type of thing in that community was shocking.
"Fabulous neighborhood," said assistant director Julie Wolfe. "Just a lot of families that live here. My own family lived here for 28 year. My kids grew up here. It's just a nice, quiet neighborhood in La Mesa. Everybody loves it here. We love it. Love working here."
Wolfe stayed calm about the situation, but did say when it started, parents were very concerned about their children's safety.
Another resident, Desiree Guillen, told NBC 7 it is scary to think a production like this was going on near her home.
"You know, we're trying to see what's going on and get the scoop," she said. "I like thought it was a nice neighborhood. It's residential. It's like a residential pocket, looks cute and all. But you never know."
Agents said it's nearly impossible to tell if a hash oil is operating out of the home next to you because butane is odorless and colorless.
