MARCOLA, Ore. (Dec 12, 2025) — Lane County Sheriff’s Office detectives have discovered a large hazardous illegal drug lab on a rural property north of Marcola following a months-long investigation, authorities said.
Over the past year, detectives received information indicating that James Joseph Love, 51, of Marcola, was operating an illegal butane hash oil (BHO) extraction lab and manufacturing psilocybin products. Officials said such operations can be extremely dangerous when run illegally and have caused explosions and fires in Lane County in recent years.
On Dec. 9, sheriff’s detectives and deputies served a search warrant at Love’s residence in the 95100 block of Hazel Lane. Investigators encountered several clandestine labs located in outbuildings on the property, according to the sheriff’s office.
Because of hazardous electrical wiring, chemicals and pressurized systems that were still in operation, the Mohawk Valley Rural Fire District was called to the scene. Additional assistance was requested from Eugene Springfield Fire’s hazardous materials team to ensure the safety of law enforcement personnel conducting the investigation.
Love was already in custody at the Lane County Jail on a parole violation at the time of the search. Authorities said additional charges related to the drug lab investigation are expected to be filed at a later date.
Lane County Land Management will also follow up on numerous code violations discovered during the criminal investigation, officials said.
The sheriff’s office said the investigation was made possible through ongoing grant funding from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission’s Illegal Marijuana Market Grant, created by the Oregon Legislature in 2018 to help local law enforcement agencies and district attorneys address illegal marijuana activity statewide.
The investigation remains ongoing.
All suspects are believed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
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