Pubdate: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 2000 San Jose Mercury News Contact: 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190 Fax: (408) 271-3792 Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Author: Alan Gathright DRUG MAKERS TARGETED Officials believe those dumping methamphetamine waste are operating large labs. Attorney General Bill Lockyer announced a $5,000 reward Friday targeting outlaw methamphetamine makers who recently dumped toxic waste in trash bags on four occasions in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park, posing a threat to children or other passersby. In one February incident, an East Palo Alto apartment manager was overcome by toxic fumes when she unwittingly opened a bag, Lockyer said. She quickly recovered after hospital treatment. ``We believe those responsible for dumping this dangerous toxic waste are operating large-scale methamphetamine labs near the dump sites,'' Lockyer said at the Redwood City news conference, announcing a crackdown by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Federal and local narcotics and health officials have recently warned that epidemic use of methamphetamine, a cheaply manufactured, powerful stimulant known as ``speed,'' could rival the crack cocaine explosion. The drug can trigger paranoia and aggressive outbursts in users, fueling increased violent crime, child abuse and domestic violence, said San Mateo County Sheriff Don Horsley. The illegal laboratories contain highly toxic and explosive chemicals and their waste can be a ``contact poison'' to anyone who stumbles across it. ``Our great concern is that some more of this toxic substance might be found by a child and it could end up in a very tragic situation,'' Horsley said. Ronald Brooks of the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement's South Bay office said methamphetamine ``is no longer just a blue-collar drug.'' Once favored exclusively by outlaw motorcycle gangs, methamphetamine is now injected, snorted and smoked by people across society, from professionals to college students at psychedelic ``rave'' parties. San Mateo County District Attorney Jim Fox cited a Riverside County tragedy where three children died in a methamphetamine lab explosion that resulted in a murder prosecution. He vowed to ``vigorously prosecute'' illegal labs and toxic dumping. More than 1,932 illegal labs were seized in California last year, a fourfold increase over the 465 labs busted in 1996, Lockyer said. South Bay narcotics agents closed 94 labs in 1999, compared to 64 labs in 1998. ``About one in eight of (the labs) are fairly easy crimes to solve, because somebody's on fire, running down the street'' because of an explosion, Lockyer said. ``That illustrates the risk associated with the manufacture (of the drug) and of course dumping toxics.'' - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea