Suspected Placer County Drug Lab Littered With Construction Equipment

PLACER COUNTY (CBS13) — Drugs, guns and hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen cars and equipment were recovered from what Placer County investigators say was used as a drug lab.

From a half-million dollar bulldozer and flatbed trailer, to Bobcats, a dozen cars, generators, and more trailers, this is no construction project—it's a recovery operation.

In all, investigators say $800,000 in stolen equipment was found. Detectives also found 20 guns and loads of processed marijuana in what they described as a honey oil lab in a remote house in the foothills.

"It was an old mining shack. Five people inside. They had a clandestine drug lab," said Placer County Sheriff's spokeswoman Dena Erwin.

One of the men arrested was a convicted felon living on the property. Detectives believe the merchandise would have been used for the drug lab, or to sell on the black market.

Three of the five arrested now face a handful of charges including car theft, possession of stolen property and conspiracy.