Oklahoma Agents Shut Down Illegal Pill Manufacturing Operation In Tulsa

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and ABLE Commission busted an illegal pill manufacturing lab in the back of a Tulsa liquor store. They said the lab was able to produce 3,000 pills an hour.

Two people were arrested this week accused of running the lab.

Mark Woodward with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics said Alto McDonald and Atya Thierry face a slew of charges, including drug manufacturing and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.

"They're just manufacturing different things and putting it on the streets not realizing that it could absolutely be deadly. And the users have no idea," Woodward said.

The investigation started in January with a routine inspection of a liquor store near 63rd and Peoria.

ABLE Commission Assistant Director Brent Fairchild said one of his agents found a pill press, stamps, powders, and binding agents in the back of the store. When the Narcotics Bureau tested the powder, it came back positive for meth.

Woodward said their 'customers' likely thought they were getting Oxycodone, Percocet, or ecstasy because the pills were made to look that way. In reality, they were getting methamphetamine.

Woodward said the difference can be deadly.

"Over the last couple of years, we've dealt with a lot of overdose and deaths associated with people buying what they thought was oxy on the streets," Woodward said. "Many of them who've tried it before are going to be expecting that same reaction and it could be absolutely deadly."

Both McDonald and Thierry have bonded out of jail. They are set to appear in court on Monday.