A-F: I guess I meant a real operation, not amateur meth labs... Well, I guess most, if not all, meth labs are run by amateurs anyway. Besides, after moving, a "drug bust" was someone getting caught growing pot in their basement, so it's been a long while since I've seen any organized crime.
TSO: Yeah, that would seem to be the likely explanation... No way to know for sure until you get news, though.
And of course people are retarded. Do you think anyone important on the higher-end of the chain really does meth? In fact, most street dealers start dealing to support their habits. A few smart dealers, and most higher-ups, aren't even touching what they're selling.
Although how your brother talked someone else into this isn't totally beyond me. Is your cousin the "generally reliable" type? Just because someone has kids doesn't make them responsible, as I'm sure many people would testify.