Sheriff’s deputies find meth “super-lab”

BALLICO, Calif.—Merced County Sheriff’s deputies discovered a methamphetamine “super-lab” where they believe criminals cooked drugs worth as much as $500,000 on the street.Spokesman Tom MacKenzie says they found 400 to 500 pounds of drug waste Thursday in a rural area near Ballico, about 15 miles northwest of Merced.

Investigators believe the lab materials were dumped in an orchard during the night. They’re pursuing investigative leads in the case while a cleanup crew clears away the mess.