This month, the Parker County Sheriff’s Special Crimes Unit (SCU) conducted an investigation into an active Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) manufacturing lab located in the 100-Block of South Mountain Ridge in southern Parker County.
According to Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier, DMT is a potent hallucinogen produced by combining specific substances with toxic chemicals, leading to a chemical reaction that forms the liquid narcotic. DMT is classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal guidelines and is listed in penalty group 2 of the Texas Health and Safety Code.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) categorizes Schedule 1 substances as having high abuse and addiction potential with no accepted medical use.
Through their investigation, SCU investigators established probable cause to obtain a search warrant for the South Mountain Ridge property. On August 2, SCU investigators, in cooperation with the Parker County Regional SWAT, DEA, Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force, and the Texas Department of Public Safety, executed the search warrant.
During the search, law enforcement discovered a DMT lab containing over 29 gallons of liquid DMT in various stages of production, as well as precursor substances used in its manufacture. The liquid DMT was being infused into vaping devices and sold. The estimated 29 gallons seized could have produced approximately 2 kilograms of finished product, equating to over 13,300 cartridges with an estimated street value of nearly $800,000. Each vaping cartridge was being sold for $60.00 and contained about 0.15 grams of DMT.
In addition to the DMT, investigators seized Methamphetamine, 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and Psilocybin Mushrooms on the property. DEA personnel assisted SCU investigators with the investigation and evidence seizure.
The Tarrant Regional Auto Crimes Task Force also located a stolen vehicle, a stolen camper, and a stolen trailer on the property.
Jonathon Richard Schrock, 46, was arrested at the residence and charged with manufacturing and delivering a controlled substance in penalty group 2, over 400 grams, for his suspected involvement in the DMT manufacturing operation.
Sheriff Authier expressed his appreciation for the continued support from local and federal law enforcement agencies in investigating large cases and executing search warrants of this scale. He stated, “Their assistance is invaluable when it comes to dismantling illegal drug labs. We owe a great deal of the successful outcome to these partnerships.”
The investigation is ongoing, with additional arrests anticipated.
