Pubdate: Tue, 07 Nov 2000
Source: Topeka Capital-Journal (KS)
Copyright: 2000 The Topeka Capital-Journal
Contact:  616 S.E. Jefferson, Topeka, Kansas 66607
Website: http://cjonline.com/
Author: Kevin Bates

STATE METH PRODUCTION CONTINUES RAPID RISE

With fewer than two months left in the year, Kansas already has shattered
last year's record number of seized methamphetamine laboratories.

And authorities expect the numbers to continue to rise.

"It just keeps going up and up," said Scott Teeselink, agent with the Kansas
Bureau of Investigation. "And these are just the ones we know about, the
ones we hear about before they're gone. Who knows how many there really are
out there."

As of Friday, 550 clandestine meth labs had been seized by law enforcement
officers throughout the state, according to statistics released Monday by
the KBI. The total -- nearly two per day -- easily topped last year's mark
of 511, and Teeselink said this year's sum should quickly top 600.

The new numbers were revealed Monday at a news conference conducted at the
Shawnee Regional Prevention and Recovery Services office in Topeka, where
officials discussed some of the consequences of methamphetamine production
and usage and presented a plan to assist in the fight against the drug.

Because Kansas ranks third in meth production, behind California and
Missouri, those at the prevention and recovery services agency decided to
develop a program to educate specific groups about the widespread problem of
meth.

"It's becoming a bigger and bigger problem in Kansas," said Maren Santelli,
a prevention and intervention specialist, who listed several target
audiences for the presentation. Those who would benefit from meth lessons
include retailers, rural dwellers and youth, she said.

Lynn Mead, a district loss prevention officer for Wal-Mart, said stores in
Kansas began reducing in October 1996 the number of products related to meth
production that a customer could buy at one time. Instead of purchasing up
to six boxes of ephedrine tablets -- one of the main ingredients in meth --
customers now can buy only three at once.

Other topics are planned, such as how to help educate rural farm residents
who own anhydrous ammonia tanks. Because anhydrous ammonia, a toxic chemical
normally used as fertilizer, is also used to produce meth, many instances of
theft from ammonia tanks have been reported.

The personal cost of meth use also was discussed Monday. Sharon Siliceo, a
Topeka Correctional Facility inmate, shared her downward spiral into
addiction and told how she nearly threw her life away because of meth.

"Today I can honestly say I am glad to be in prison, because if I was still
out there, who knows what could have happened," said Siliceo, who is serving
a 22-month sentence for possession with intent to sell meth.

The program will be funded for one year by a federal grant. And because
fighting meth labs also is expensive -- each lab cleanup costs about
$3,500 -- authorities said they were pleased to announce that the KBI will
receive a $2 million federal grant for more personnel and equipment.

The money will be used to:

 Hire seven additional KBI narcotics agents.

 Hire five additional KBI forensic chemists.

 Remodel the KBI forensic lab in Great Bend.

 Provide training and safety equipment to statewide law enforcement.

 Purchase a new meth lab response vehicle.

 Update instruments used in meth lab investigations.

 Expand drug evidence storage space at headquarters in Topeka.
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