Pubdate: Wed, 29 May 2002
Source: Huntsville Times (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Huntsville Times
Contact:  http://www.htimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/730
Author: David Brewer

JACKSON COUNTY HOTBED FOR METH PRODUCTION

Cramer Seeks Money To Help Stop Second-worst Drug Problem In State

SCOTTSBORO - Except for Mobile County, more methamphetamine labs have been 
found in Jackson County than anywhere else in Alabama, officials said Tuesday.

Because of the problem, U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer told state and local officials 
Tuesday in Scottsboro he's seeking federal money to help local law 
enforcement agencies.

''We're trying to educate Congress on the problems in rural areas,'' said 
Cramer, D-Huntsville. ''We have an epidemic problem.''

Chief Investigator Chuck Phillips of the Sheriff's Department said 
authorities found about 100 meth labs in the county last year. So far this 
year, he said, the department has raided 39 laboratories and arrested 37 
people.

''There's no telling how many more we're not finding,'' Phillips said. The 
problem has become too big for the department to handle, he said.

Cramer said he's pushing four bills that would help law enforcement 
agencies find meth labs and clean up the hazardous chemicals used to make 
the drug.

Cleaning up such a lab requires people with special training and equipment 
that costs at least $5,000 for each lab, officials said. One of the bills, 
said Cramer, would provide money to train and equip officers to fight meth 
labs.

The bills are in committee and Congress could act on them this year, said a 
Cramer spokeswoman.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens