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.
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