Detectives arrest 4 after uncovering marijuana oil lab operation in El Dorado County
Detectives with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people last week in connection with a butane honey oil operation involving two Placerville homes, authorities said.
Narcotics deputies served a search warrant Friday at the two residences, as well as a business in Cameron Park, after receiving a tip about a possible butane honey oil lab. Deputies located “pounds of marijuana, concentrated cannabis, lab equipment” and thousands of used butane canisters, the Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
“Detectives located 150 unused cans and 15,000 used canisters,” the post said.
Chad Nicolay, Luis Sandoval and Anthony Gaytan were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy and manufacturing a controlled substance, the Sheriff’s Office said. Nicolay and a fourth suspect, Alison Hendricks, were additionally arrested on charges related to child endangerment after lab evidence was found at each of the two homes.
Butane honey, also known as concentrated cannabis commonly known, is produced through a chemical process using butane, which is extremely flammable.
In December 2018, a butane honey oil lab in Foresthill exploded, destroying the building in which it was housed, Placer County Sheriff’s officials said at the time. No one was hurt, but two 57-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of running the lab.
This story was originally published February 4, 2020 at 8:10 AM.
