Two Men Arrested After Concord Drug Lab Raid

A Concord Regional Crimeline tip earlier this week led to police allegedly finding a hallucinogenic mushroom lab and arresting two residents on Thorndike Street.

Derek Milioto, 32, of Thorndike Street in Concord, was arrested on July 16, 2015, and charged with possession of controlled drugs, manufacturing, a felony, along with possession of controlled drugs, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child/incompetent. Also arrested was Luke Robinson, 23, of Thorndike Street in Concord, on possession of controlled drugs, manufacturing, a felony, and possession of controlled drugs charges.

Editor’s note: This post was derived from information supplied by the Concord Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction. Click this link to find out how to get a name removed from a New Hampshire Patch police report.

According to police, on July 13, 2015, detectives began investigating a Crimeline tip about drug activity at 19 Thorndike St.

“Specifically, the tip alleged that the residents were manufacturing and distributing psilocybin (hallucinogenic) mushrooms,” according to Lt. Timothy O’Malley, the commander of the criminal investigations unit of the department. “The tip also included concern that the illegal drug activity was taking place in the presence of young children.”

Officers spoke with a neighbor who alleged smelling marijuana coming from the first floor apartment as well as a high volume of pedestrian traffic in and out of the apartment. Detectives later learned that the residence had “multiple exterior surveillance cameras.” They also corroborated reports of “multiple individuals” visiting the apartment and that there were two children, 8 and 4, living in the residence.

The next day, police executed a search warrant.

“Shortly after entering the apartment Detectives noticed a large pot of dark liquid on the stove, a large industrial style barrel containing liquid on the kitchen table, bags of soil for the growing of mushrooms, a container of grain and large sifting screens in the kitchen,” O’Malley said. “Detectives then discovered numerous boxes of laboratory equipment including glassware, growing lights and related laboratory equipment. Also in the basement there were several containers with mushrooms and soil.”

One bedroom allegedly had a large rack with 24 trays of soil and mushrooms. The basement also appeared to be cultivating mushrooms, according to the report.

DEA agents were notified and allegedly “determined that there was a large scale clandestine laboratory for the growing of psilocybin mushrooms inside of the apartment,” according to O’Malley. Tenants were evacuated during the two days that the DEA and detectives were executing the search warrant. Code enforcement has since cleared the residency for re-occupancy.

Milioto and Robinson turned themselves in to police on July 16, according to O’Malley, and were held on cash bail. They will be arraigned later today. O’Malley noted that the investigation was ongoing and more charges and/or arrest could be forthcoming.