DEA Seizes Business Called ‘Granddaddy’ to U.S. Meth Labs

Federal agents seized three chemical supply plants in San Diego and Los Angeles counties Friday, shutting down what they believe to be the “granddaddy” provider of chemicals and equipment used by more than 2,000 methamphetamine labs across the country.

The plants, run by Robert J. Miskinis, were seized by agents of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration as part of an investigation into allegations that Miskinis has knowingly sold large quantities of chemicals and equipment to illegal methamphetamine manufacturers.

The agents searched and seized RJM Labs in Lakeside, Safe Laboratories in Santee and RJM Labs in North Hollywood, as well as Miskinis’ home in El Cajon and two vacant properties in Santee and La Mesa.

“A great deal of the methamphetamine problem in San Diego can be placed at the doorstep of RJM Labs,” said Charles E. Hill, special agent in charge of the DEA office in San Diego. “People who supply clandestine laboratories with all the chemicals and glassware are secondary profiteers of drug traffickers. They don’t sell dope to people, but they profit from drug traffickers’ sales.”

Miskinis, 38, a convicted drug dealer, has not been charged in the investigation. He remained Friday afternoon at his home in the 1400 block of Lakeridge Lane, declining to talk to reporters.

The former UCLA chemistry student made headlines last year when he hired a lobbyist in Sacramento to delay strict new reporting requirements on chemicals used to make methamphetamine. However, the six-month reporting delay was rescinded when Miskinis’ background was revealed.

In 1980, he was convicted in Los Angeles of manufacturing methamphetamine, also known as speed, and, after serving two months in jail, was placed on probation, according to DEA spokesman Ron D’Ulisse.

In the current investigation, federal agents recently filed two separate affidavits in federal court in San Diego and Los Angeles in support of seizing Miskinis’ property.

Although the affidavits remained sealed by court order, D’Ulisse said the court papers basically lay out the agency’s contention that Miskinis over the years has knowingly supplied chemicals and equipment such as glass pots and special patented bottle tops that are used in the illegal manufacture of methamphetamine.

“This is the granddaddy of them all,” D’Ulisse said. “He has a very wide reputation of providing everything you need. He’s a millionaire, and his revenues were in the multimillions each year.”

RJM Labs in Lakeside was filled with chemical bottles and large vats of chemical mixtures. The building also contained large drums and glass bottles, including one 200-liter glass drum shaped like a hot tub in the front of the building.

Federal agents said there were enough chemicals in the plant to make more than 50 tons of methamphetamine, which over the years could wholesale for millions of dollars.

D’Ulisse said federal officials believe that, since 1982, Miskinis’ operations have provided supplies to more than 2,000 illegal meth labs across the country, including ones in Texas, Tennessee, New Jersey and Washington state.

He said the agents had hoped to find a detailed list of Miskinis’ clients, but instead learned that 95% of his business is cash-and-carry and that Miskinis apparently keeps few names of customers.

“A lot of it was phone orders, a lot of it was mail-in,” D’Ulisse said. “But most of it seems to be where you come right in and plunk down your cash. There’s a conspicuous absence of any identification on any sales.”

Much of the evidence obtained in Friday’s search and seizures now will be turned over to federal grand juries, D’Ulisse said.

He added that, before any charges can be brought against Miskinis, officials must be able to show that he knowingly provided the supplies for an illegal enterprise. He described the burden of proof as similar to that required when someone gives a friend a gun, knowing that the gun is going to be used to shoot someone.

“That’s why this is taking so long,” D’Ulisse said. “We have to have testimony from witnesses and others to show beyond a reasonable doubt that he knew what he was doing.”

With Friday’s action, federal agents have seized a total of six chemical-supply firms in Southern California in the past few months. Most recently, agents seized the business records in May of a Carlsbad chemical company known as Quantum Labs and its satellite offices in Orange and Riverside counties.