The Manitowoc County Drug Unit busted a major international drug operation in the Village of Reedsville.
The U.S. Postal Service tipped police off to the operation within the past two weeks after U.S. Customs intercepted some chemicals addressed to 325 Mill Street.
Officers had the package delivered, then both federal and local authorities carried out the raid at the home Wednesday afternoon.
Inside the found what they suspect is human growth hormone (HGH), Viagra, and Cialis.
They also found drug-making equipment like two pill presses, two mills, washers, chemical dryers, and two 55-gallon drums containing chemicals.
Lt. Mark Anderson of the Manitowoc County Metro Drug Unit tells Action 2 News the operation was purchasing bulk chemicals and drugs from manufacturers in China.
"They would manufacture different types of pills, I believe generic forms of Viagra and then some growth hormone-type pills like steroid-type pills I'd call it. They were manufactured, packaged, and sold over the Internet," Manitowoc County Sheriff Rob Hermann said.
Authorities believe the suspects were adding flavoring to the generic drugs.
Investigators say the suspects were doing $1,000 to $2,000 a day in business.
Members of the Metro Drug Unit say this raid is unlike any other it's ever executed in Manitowoc County.
"A lot of equipment they had was large-scale manufacturing equipment, things that we would typically not see during the normal course of our business," Detective Sergeant Pete McGinty of the Two Rivers Police Department said.
"In 25 years I've never seen such an operation. We've conducted search warrants in marijuana grow houses, crystal meth labs, meth cathedone manufacturing. I've never seen anything like this in 25 years," Sheriff Hermann said.
We're told a man and a woman were in the home when that search warrant was executed.
Authorities tell us the pair is being cooperative and they were released from custody. Federal charges against the two are expected to be filed.
Police say the two didn't live in the Reedsville house -- that the house was strictly used for making drugs. According to the Metro Drug Unit, this illegal operation is believed to have been going on inside the home for at least six months.
Police say the operation took up the first and second floors of the small house, as well as the entire basement and garage.
Investigators also say they also searched the suspects' home in the Appleton area and seized more pills and a computer.
Local police couldn't give an estimate of how long it might take for federal prosecutors to file charges. Lab tests are being done on the chemicals that were found.
According to a media release from the Manitowoc County Metro Drug Unit, local officers along with agents from the federal Food and Drug Administration and agents from the office of the U.S. Postal Inspector raided the home, while Reedsville police, Drug Enforcement Administration agents, and State Crime Lab technicians assisted at the scene.
No other arrests are expected.