Suspected Fetanyl Lab Uncovered During Raid On Detroit's West Side

DETROIT (WWJ) - Authorities have uncovered an apparent drug lab while carrying out a police raid on Detroit's west side.

The situation developed Wednesday morning at a home on Beaverland Street, in a neighborhood along Telegraph Road just south of Joy Road.

While carrying out the raid, Michigan State Police discovered a suspected fetanyl lab.

One man was taken into custody and four children were removed from the home, according to Lt. Mike Shaw. More arrests could come as well.

"This is an ongoing investigation," said Shaw. "A lot of times these people can lead us to other people, and it kind of gets going down the chain. So right now, there's one person in custody and probably some more will be arrested down the road, I'm sure."

The scene remains active as an investigation is ongoing.

"We're going to have to shut down the entire block around that house," said Shaw. "We'll have officers from our methamphetamine investigative team come in, and they'll be wearing full self-contained suits with a breathing apparatus -- they're going to have to go in there and clean it up."

Shaw said the home might end up being condemned, adding another vacant property to the city.

"The house will no longer be habitual until somebody gets in there and cleans it up," he said. "Sometimes these houses actually have to be torn down."

Fentanyl is a painkiller that is 15 to 20 times more potent than heroin and is often prescribed to cancer patients. Shaw said fentanyl has been found in a variety of street drugs, most commonly heroin, and even a scant amount can be fatal.

"Just getting a small portion on your skin or breathing in some of it is toxic," he said. "It can make you seriously sick or actually cause death, and that's where we're seeing a large amount of the overdoses."

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