2 arrested after agents discover ‘Breaking Bad’-style mobile meth lab in RV

LEE COUNTY, N.C. (TCD) — A 43-year-old male and 36-year-old woman were taken into custody last week after narcotics agents discovered a drug lab inside a mobile home.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 1, Lee County Narcotics Agents contacted the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Clandestine Lab Unit and asked them to help execute a search warrant at an RV at 6831 Old Jefferson Davis Highway.

Once inside, the drug agents found Eddie Michael Bird, Rachel Leigh Mabe, and their juvenile child, as well as fentanyl, meth, and different chemicals used to manufacture the drugs. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said the RV was a “‘Breaking Bad’-style mobile meth lab.”

Mabe and Bird were arrested on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, two counts of possess with intent to sell and deliver schedule II controlled substance — methamphetamine, fentanyl, five counts of possession of precursor materials with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, maintaining dwelling for sale of controlled substance, misdemeanor child abuse, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

They were booked into the Lee County Jail and are being held on $100,000 bond.

This isn’t Bird’s first brush with the law on drug charges. In August 2021, an air conditioning repairman went to 2417 Jefferson Davis Highway and knocked on the door. A juvenile opened the door and the repairman reportedly saw two unconscious adults in the apartment. He called 911 and Lee County deputies arrived at the scene.

Deputies administered Narcan to an unconscious female on the floor and an unconscious male on the couch, then called narcotics agents. The two adults were identified as Bird and 32-year-old Paige Dostroph. She lived at the 217 Jefferson Davis Highway address. Bird’s address was listed as 6831 Jefferson Davis Highway.

Dostroph went to the hospital for treatment, while Bird was arrested for an outstanding warrant. Narcotics agents searched the residence and found 2 grams of fentanyl and 6 grams of crystal meth. Bird was booked on charges of felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule I substance — heroin and fentanyl, one count of felony possession with intent to sell and deliver a schedule II substance — crystal meth, one count of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and one count of misdemeanor child abuse.

Dostroph was booked on charges of one count of possession with the intent to sell and deliver heroin/fentanyl, one count of felony possession with the intent to sell and deliver crystal meth, one count of felony maintaining a dwelling for the storage and sells of an illegal controlled substance, one count of misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and one count of misdemeanor child abuse.

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