Meth lab investigation turns up nothing but maple syrup

An Illinois woman was shocked to find car loads of police officers swarming her property in search of an alleged meth lab operation.

Investigators with the Union County Sheriff's Department descended on the property of Laura Benson after receiving reports of a methamphetamine lab at the home. Benson knew something was wrong when she heard her dog barking Wednesday morning. She looked outside and saw a truck driving up her driveway quickly, followed by a police cruiser. Initially thinking her son had gotten into some type of trouble, she went outside to ask what the problem was. She was surprised when she found out she had been accused of manufacturing meth. She told KFVS: "They pointed to the buckets [in my yard] and I told them my husband has a hobby of making maple syrup. Of course they realized it once they [saw] it." Benson told ABC57 she and her husband have been making their own maple syrup for the past five years, but this is the first time neighbors had reported the syrup operation as a meth lab. But, she is thankful that her neighbors are alert to what is happening in the neighborhood and said she is glad they called police. She told 14News: "I think my neighbors on their way to church see the buckets and stuff and think we've got a meth lab operation going on here. I just want to put their minds at ease, and let them know it's maple syrup. And that they're all welcome for pancakes if they want to come on over." Although she was glad no one in the family was in trouble, she did not want investigators to leave empty handed, making sure they had a sample of the syrup to take home and enjoy.