An ill-timed call to report a burglary exposes a Clandestine drug operation in Suffolk County

In a twist that seems lifted straight from the script of “Breaking Bad,” Matthew Leshinsky, a 23-year-old from Suffolk County, New York, found his secret life as a drug manufacturer unravelling after he dialled 911 to report a burglary. Little did he know, this call would lead the authorities directly to his illicit drug lab, effectively turning himself in.

On June 7, 2023, in the early hours of the morning, Leshinsky contacted the police, claiming his business, Quantitative Laboratories, LLC, had been broken into. Responding officers from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Precinct arrived to find a scene far removed from a typical burglary. Beyond the shattered entrance lay a sophisticated lab, not for scientific research as one might expect, but for the production of methamphetamine, dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and other controlled substances.

The inadvertent self-reporting led to a comprehensive search of the premises, revealing over 100 pieces of laboratory equipment and a horde of chemicals and solvents dedicated to drug manufacturing. The haul didn’t stop at lab gear; officers also uncovered $40,000 in cash, substantial quantities of MDMA (ecstasy), methamphetamine, pure ketamine, and over 20 plastic 55-gallon drums filled with Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), a chemical precursor to the notorious ‘date rape drug’ GHB.

On February 15, Leshinsky faced the music as he pleaded guilty to a slew of charges, including Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetamine in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney didn’t mince words, likening Leshinsky’s operation to a “Breaking Bad-style drug lab” masked under the guise of a legitimate business. Tierney commended the initial responding officers for their sharp eye in spotting the lab and praised the collaborative effort of law enforcement in dismantling the dangerous drug operation.

Leshinsky’s self-sabotage has not only shuttered his illegal venture but also serves as a cautionary tale about the unintended consequences of criminal undertakings. As he awaits sentencing on March 20, 2024, the community breathes a sigh of relief, knowing that a significant source of dangerous drugs has been eradicated from the streets of Suffolk County