If you’re a chemistry major with a genuine passion for academia, chances are you will be arrested on the suspicion of developing homebrew narcotics and/or building explosives for terrorists at some point in your life.

Lewis Casey, an 18-year-old chemistry major with a home laboratory, learned this lesson the hard way when the Canadian Mounties police raided his home, accusing him of making crystal meth before riding away with him and his laboratory in tow.

When the authorities later realized that Casey was not running a drug cartel from his parent’s basement, they decided to accuse him of terrorism instead.

i09 reports:

It's unclear what made police raid Casey's house. They claim that they got a tip from a woman who sold Casey fertilizer and was concerned about it. Certain kinds of fertilizer are used in the production of crystal meth.

The case is reminiscent of the Steve Kurtz case in 2004. Kurtz is a New York artist who uses biotech equipment in his work, and police arrested him on suspicion of terrorism after discovering his home chemistry lab.

Only in Canada can buying fertilizer lead to a suspicion of making drugs.

Also, doesn’t everyone have bomb-making materials in their homes? They’re called sugar, bleach, detergent, etc.