Pubdate: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 Source: Asheville Citizen-Times (NC) Copyright: 2002 Asheville Citizen-Times Contact: http://www.citizen-times.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/863 Author: Jennifer Brevorka METH LAB SEIZURES ON RISE IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA MARION - The number of methamphetamine lab seizures in North Carolina has risen dramatically during the past three years, a fact that's creating concern for local and state law enforcement officials because of the hazardous nature of the illegal drug centers. In 2000, the State Bureau of Investigation documented 18 methamphetamine lab seizure; the number of labs seized increased 90 percent to 34 in 2001. State officials said the numbers have continued to rise in 2002, with 48 lab seizures during the first half of the year. In May, a lab was shut down in Hendersonville, and the McDowell County Sheriff's Office reported two lab seizures this year and closed a pre-cursor lab in June. "Twenty-one of the seizures we've made this year have been in the western half of North Carolina, 12 seizures have been in counties immediately surrounding Asheville," said Van Shaw, the clandestine laboratory response coordinator with the SBI. "This is a growth trend we were expecting because of the prolific number of labs being found in Tennessee and Georgia. As officials have begun to crack down in the west, these labs have moved eastward." Methamphetamines are synthetic amphetamines, which stimulate the central nervous system. Produced and sold illegally in pill form, powder and chunks, the drug, which is also called "crank," "crystal," "meth" and "ice," can be smoked, snorted or injected. Users often feel euphoric or energized, and addicts can go days without sleep. As users begin to come down off their high, they can have violent or psychotic episodes, which is known as "tweaking," according to Detective Victor Hollifield with the McDowell County Sheriff's Department. "In my opinion, this drug is much worse than crack," said Hollifield, referring to crack cocaine. "We are seeing users who are switching from crack to meth because the high lasts much longer and is more potent." Hollifield noted that crystal meth generally sells for $100 per gram. Typically, methamphetamine producers create their drugs using chemicals found in drain cleaner, engine starter, lithium batteries and cold tablets. Household items such as jugs, funnels, gas cans or coffee filters are then used to mix and filter the chemicals. Recipes for the toxic mixtures can even be found on the Internet. Of the 2,000 chemicals available to make the drug, at least half are considered explosive, according to drug enforcement agents. "The process presently used to make methamphetamines is fast, and the ingredients can easily be stored in the back of a car or a cardboard box," said Joe Revis, a senior chemist with the SBI who is based in Asheville. Revis has already investigated 10 clandestine labs in WNC this year and says the ability to make the drug quickly is another reason why labs are springing up across the region. The ease with which the drug can be made also allows dealers to create roving laboratories or mobile methamphethamine centers in their cars. Nationally, the number of labs found in vehicles increased from 869 in 1999 to 1,207 in 2001. The number of vehicles found with chemicals or equipment used to make methamphetamines increased from 30 in 1999 to 624 in 2001, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. However, because there is no mandatory reporting requirement, it is difficult to know for certain the total number of traveling crystal methamphetamine labs. While the labs are relatively cheap to set up, they are expensive to clean up and can cost officials anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000 to shut down, according to Van Shaw with the SBI. Presently, the SBI is responsible for investigating clandestine drug labs in North Carolina. Even though the Drug Enforcement Administration pays for the cleanup costs, local law enforcement agencies generally absorb the costs of the hazardous material suits worn by cleanup crews. These suits, worn to protect agents from fumes or deadly liquids, can range anywhere from $700 to $2,000. Because of the nature of the materials collected during the cleanup, the hazardous material suits are frequently disposed of after one use, according to Shaw. "These labs create a danger of fire and toxic waste," said N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper. "We've seen officers affected by hazardous substances, we've seen explosions, we've even had to evacuate apartment complexes near these labs. These drug dealers do not take care when dealing with these dangerous chemicals." Cooper said the state is asking for citizens to be aware of the signs that generally accompany illegal methamphetamine labs and to notify local law enforcement officials if they suspect the existence of secret drug production center. "Crystal meth is a significant drug problem for residents and law enforcement agents in rural parts of the United States, and North Carolina is no exception," said Cooper. "We see this problem coming in from other states and we want to be ready. We will not let it take us by surprise." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens