Small Town News

Record meth bust made in GShoals

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A law enforcement taskforce seized an estimated $227,000 of liquid methamphetamine from a Granite Shoals residence and arrested two suspects in what is likely the largest single meth bust in Burnet County history, authorities said.

Keith Wayne Henson, 53, and Jeanette Louise Turner, 37, were charged with four felonies: possession of a controlled substance of more than 400 grams (first-degree), unlawful manufacture of a controlled substance of more than 400 grams (first-degree), possession or transportation of certain chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance (second-degree) and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon (third-degree) following a narcotics search at 2902 Johnson St. Total bond was set at $425,000 for both Henson and Turner, who each have previous drug felony convictions, authorities said.

Local, county, and state law enforcement confiscated a total of 3.5 gallons of liquid methamphetamine-- the precursor to saleable meth--from the residence Friday. The volume equals about 25 pounds of consumable methamphetamine once it undergoes the crystallization process and hits the street. The $227,000 estimated street value could be higher.

"That's really conservative," said Burnet County Sheriff W.T. Smith, who could not recall a meth bust as large since his area law enforcement career began in the early 1990's. "It (meth) has only gained in popularity the past eight to 10 years," Smith said. "You rarely, rarely see that amount in this area ...I suspect it was the largest in the county."

Investigators were tipped off to the meth lab from phone calls to Hill Country Crime Stoppers Hotline and from conversations with other confidential sources.

Authorities would not expand on the investigation that led to the arrests, only saying that it's ongoing.

"We're just really excited.we got these drugs off the street," Smith said. "We're going to continue to be aggressive in our posture. We want to send a clear message that drugs are not welcome in this county."

The taskforce included Burnet County Sheriffs Office Special Operations Unit, Burnet Police Department, Marble Falls Police Department Narcotics unit and Special Response Team, Texas Dept. of Public Safety CID, Heart of Texas Auto Theft Task Force, and Granite Shoals Police Department.



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© 2010 Burnet Bulletin Burnet, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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