Light Rain, 66°
Weather sponsored by:

Explosive materials also recovered at Keystone Heights drug lab

By Don Coble don@opcfla.com
Posted 3/31/21

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Investigations and Drug Enforcement Agency provided more details on a recent drug bust in Keystone Heights.

Cody …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Don't have an ID?


Print subscribers

If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one.

Non-subscribers

Click here to see your options for subscribing.

Single day pass

You also have the option of purchasing 24 hours of access, for $1.00. Click here to purchase a single day pass.

Explosive materials also recovered at Keystone Heights drug lab


Posted

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Department of Homeland Investigations and Drug Enforcement Agency provided more details on a recent drug bust in Keystone Heights.

Cody Michael Clifford, 40, of Keystone Heights, was jailed March 19 on charges of cultivating marijuana, possession of dimethyltryptamine, LSD, marijuana and drug paraphernalia after the Clay County Sheriff’s Office came to the house after members of HSI seized two parcels containing Mescaline Clifford ordered from Peru. Clifford agreed to have his home and car searched, according to the arrest report, and deputies found more than 75 grams of dimethyltryptamine, marijuana hash, Harmala powder, seven marijuana plants, five handguns, two rifles and shotgun and an assortment of chemicals used to manufacturer narcotics.

CCSO Sheriff Michelle Cook said Clifford is suspected of running a DMT extraction lab.

“DMT labs are very rare and dangerous. They can be dangerous to those who are producing the drug, the community and for our investigating officers and detectives,” Cook said.

In a joint news conference on Monday, Cook said agents also found bomb-making materials, as well as more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition in a shed behind a home in the Deer Springs Road area.

“[The material was] steel cylinders, he had the wicks, gunpowder, it was all material that he was preparing to make explosive devices,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Mike Dubet.

The DEA said there was enough explosive material to build eight grenades.

Cook said the chemicals and weapons created a danger to law enforcement and the neighborhood.

“Any time you walk into a clandestine lab making drugs and explosives, there’s a danger,” she said.

Children at the residence were taken by the Department of Children and Families, Cook said.

Clifford posted a $115,014 bond and was released from the Clay County Jail. He’s due back in court on April 20.