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HAZLE TWP. — A township man was arraigned Tuesday on drug manufacturing charges after authorities allegedly found ecstasy and equipment to make the illegal drug inside his residence.

Martin John Kelly, 32, of 500 Ridge Ave., was charged by the state Office of Attorney General with two counts of possession with intent to manufacture a controlled substance and one count each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance and risking a catastrophe.

Kelly was arraigned by District Judge Joseph Carmody in West Pittston and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $1 million bail.

Agents on Monday allegedly found 50 kilograms (about 110 pounds) of ecstasy, safrole oil, various glass vessels, unidentified liquids and chemicals, heat sources, receipts, $37,000 cash and manufactured waste sludge in Kelly’s residence, according to the criminal complaint and a news release from the Office of Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

The complaint says the make-shift laboratory created a danger for an explosion, fire hazard and release of noxious and toxic fumes. A specialized clandestine team removed the liquids, chemicals and equipment from the residence.

Kane said agents told her the lab was one of the largest discovered in recent memory within the state. Their investigation of the incident remains ongoing.

She said the lab was discovered after agents with her office executed a search warrant at the residence. They seized electronic items that will be analyzed as part of a separate, ongoing investigation.

The following agencies assisted in the investigation: Pennsylvania State Police-Hazleton barracks, the state police Clandestine Lab Response Team, the West Hazleton and Hazleton City police departments, the state Department of Environmental Protection Emergency Response Team and the Luzerne County Emergency Management Agency.

Kelly
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Times Leader

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