It is unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally create or operate a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance.
§983. Creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance; definition; penalties A. Creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance is any of the following: (1) The purchase, sale, distribution, or possession of any material, compound, mixture, preparation, supplies, equipment, or structure with the intent that it be used for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance. (2) The transportation or arranging for the transportation of any material, compound, mixture, preparation, supplies, or equipment with the intent that such material, compound, mixture, preparation, supplies, or equipment be used for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance. (3) The distribution of any material, compound, mixture, preparation, equipment, supplies, or products, which material, compound, mixture, preparation, equipment, supplies, or products have been used in, or produced by, the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance. (4) The disposal of any material, compound, mixture, preparation, equipment, supplies, products, or byproducts, which material, compound, mixture, preparation, equipment, supplies, products, or byproducts have been used in, or produced by, the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance. B. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally create or operate a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance. C. (1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, whoever commits the crime of creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance shall be sentenced to imprisonment at hard labor for not less than five years nor more than fifteen years and may, in addition, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than twenty-five thousand dollars. (2) Whoever commits the crime of creation or operation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of fentanyl or a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl or its analogues, or carfentanil or a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of carfentanil or its analogues, shall be sentenced as follows: (a) On a first conviction, imprisonment at hard labor for not less than ten years nor more than forty years, at least ten years of which shall be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence and may, in addition, be required to pay a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars. (b) On a second conviction, imprisonment at hard labor for not less than thirty years nor more than forty years, at least ten years of which shall be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence and may, in addition, be required to pay a fine of not more than five hundred thousand dollars. (c) On a third or subsequent conviction, imprisonment at hard labor for not less than ninety-nine years, which shall be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence and may, in addition, be required to pay a fine of not more than five hundred thousand dollars. D. In addition to the penalties provided in Subsection C of this Section, a person convicted under the provisions of this Section may be ordered to make restitution for the actual governmental cost incurred in the cleanup of any hazardous waste resulting from the operation of a laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance. The court may order that such amount be paid directly to the governmental agency or agencies that actually incurred the cleanup expense. Acts 2003, No. 1051, §1; Acts 2023, No. 148, §1.