Ten tons of drugs seized at Henderson business

Thursday, Aug. 20, 1998 | 10:40 a.m.

Ten tons of pseudoephedrine, commonly used in the production of the illegal drug methamphetamine, have been seized along with almost $1 million in cash at a Henderson business by agents of the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

Keith R. Baudoin, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA office in Las Vegas, said the seizure is the largest drug bust of its type ever made in the Las Vegas Valley.

Pseudoephedrine, a major ingredient in many cold medications, is a central nervous system stimulant that made headlines earlier this year when Sports Illustrated magazine published an article about National Hockey League players using a cold relief tablet containing the compound.

"(Abuse of pseudoephedrine) has become a major problem in the last six months to a year," Baudoin said.

The chemical, in pill form, was seized late Friday and Saturday from the Henderson business and a storage facility.

The cash, $898,200, was taken from the business and a safety deposit box.

The man who had the pills and cash was detained briefly and then released after the seizure, said Baudoin.

Baudoin said he has not been charged.

"It is not illegal to sell (pseudoephedrine) unless it is to be used for illegal purposes," noted the agent.

Baudoin declined to reveal the identity of the man who was detained or his business, indicating it might jeopardize a multi-state undercover investigation that has been on-going for three months.

However, he said, the man's business would not normally have such a large amount of pseudoephedrine.

"The amounts here would normally go to major drug labs in places like Northern Mexico or Southern California," said Baudoin.

According to Baudoin a case of pseudoephedrine may sell for between $300 and $400, but the street value is between $1,300 and $1,500.

He said the street value of the amount seized over the weekend would be about $2.5 million and could be used to produce about 2,500 pounds of methamphetamine.

The value of that amount of methamphetamine was not immediately available.

Baudoin said the investigation is continuing and he anticipates indictments will be sought, but did not have a time-frame.

Assisting in the investigation, he said, were Metro Police as well as the U.S. Customs Service in Las Vegas, the Henderson Police Department, the San Bernardino (California) Sheriff's Department, the Riverside County (California) Sheriff's Department and the Riverside Police Department.