Anson County has had the fifth-highest amount of meth lab busts in the state so far this year, according to data from the State Bureau of Investigation.
As of July 31, there have been 12 meth lab busts in Anson County this year.
The top four counties with the most meth lab busts this year are Gaston County with 26, Johnston County with 24, Richmond County with 20, and Harnett County with 13. Overall, the SBI has responded to 300 meth lab busts this year so far.
Last year, the SBI responded to 20 meth labs in Anson County, according to Shannon O’Toole, assistant special agent in charge and public information officer for the SBI. The SBI responded to 30 meth labs in Anson in 2013, 21 in 2012, 13 in 2011, and 18 in 2010, according to data from the North Carolina Department of Justice.
Normally, the SBI assists local agencies with training law enforcement officers to recognize meth labs, and helps local agencies clean them up, O’Toole said.