Pubdate: Wed, 10 Jul 2002 Source: Topeka Capital-Journal (KS) Copyright: 2002 The Topeka Capital-Journal Contact: http://cjonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/455 Author: Erin Adamson Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) LAW ENFORCEMENT FINDING FEWER METH LABS IN COUNTY As dramatically as they rose last year, methamphetamine lab seizures have plummeted in Shawnee County. But law enforcement can't explain why so many fewer labs are being found. The Shawnee County Sheriff's Office and Topeka Police Departments report they have seized 25 meth labs in the first six months of the 2002, compared with 72 through August of last year. Topeka police have seized 10 meth labs this year, down from 36 last year, according to a Narcotics Unit report released Tuesday. Shawnee County sheriff's officers have seized 15 meth labs, also down from 36 last year, said Deputy Martha Lutz. Topeka police spokesman Lt. John Sidwell said he didn't know why seizures of labs were down. "I can only say that it's definitely a decrease in the number of labs they seized this year," he said. But Sidwell said he thought increased law enforcement in Topeka had cut down on meth production in the city. "The people who are manufacturing meth are doing so in isolated areas of the county," he said. Kyle Smith, spokesman for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said it is difficult to tell whether there actually are fewer meth labs or law enforcement is just finding fewer labs. However, he said, the numbers were promising. "I think it's hopeful and a safe bet that labs are down in Shawnee County." By August 2001, Shawnee County had already broken the record for meth lab seizures it set in all of 2000, when Shawnee County led the state in meth lab seizures. Kansas law doesn't require counties to report meth lab seizures to the KBI. Smith said most counties do report meth activity but do so at different times during the year. The KBI Web page shows five meth lab and eight equipment seizures reported to them so far this year for Shawnee County for a total of 13 seizures. Cowley County leads the state with 20 meth seizures reported to the KBI. Statewide, the KBI has received reports of 210 meth seizures. Smith said the KBI's crime labs still are processing a backlog of meth cases. He estimated there are 10 to 12 times more items to examine in a meth seizure than in a cocaine or marijuana seizure because so many more ingredients are involved. The KBI received $2 million in grant money from the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the past year. About $1 million was used to help train law enforcement to deal with meth and the other $1 million funded the hiring of four chemists, six agents and two crime analysts to help reduce the backlog of laboratory work. Sidwell said the increased vigilance of Shawnee County citizens had helped find meth labs. He said Topeka police regularly receive calls from citizens reporting the smell of ether or anhydrous ammonia, two ingredients in meth production. The police narcotics unit reported that police received 322 drug complaints. Sidwell said officers follow up on all drug tips from citizens. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager