Pubdate: Tue, 15 Jul 2003 Source: Daily News-Record, The (VA) Copyright: 2003 The Daily News-Record Contact: http://www.dnronline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1519 Author: Joan Ashley Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) NEW LAW CRACKS DOWN ON METH SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Law enforcement officials hope a new law that took effect July 1 will put operators of clandestine drug laboratories behind bars. Operating a clandestine drug laboratory is now a felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of $2,000 to $25,000. Previously, the charge would have been possession with intent to distribute, and the penalties were usually less harsh, according to law enforcement personnel. Clandestine labs are properties on which a person assembles any chemicals, equipment or combination to manufacture methamphetamine or the street drugs better known as crank, speed, crystal meth, crack or LSD. "The new law is a great weapon in our arsenal when prosecuting clandestine lab operators," said Col. Howard E. Hill Jr., superintendent of the West Virginia State Police. "The law proves that the legislature, prosecutors and law enforcement are very serious when it comes to dealing with the operators of these labs." On The Rise Clandestine labs and their accompanying hazards are on the rise and will continue to grow unless violators are severely punished, Hill said. Last year, police dismantled more than 100 labs in West Virginia. During the past six months, the state's Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Charleston has investigated nearly 30 labs. These are in addition to labs other agencies have investigated. "Not only is meth a serious drug that's being abused, it is also volatile and destructive if handled improperly," Hill said. "People who approach a lab could be in serious danger. The chemicals are blinding, even the fumes can injure you." In Virginia, the situation is just as bad, as Harrisonburg and Rockingham County last year again earned the title of meth capital of the state. Col. Don Harper, chief of the Harrisonburg Police Department, takes it one step further, calling the city the meth epicenter of the Eastern Seaboard. Meth, or crank, is a stimulant that can be smoked, snorted or injected to produce a "high" that lasts four to eight hours. A highly addictive drug, meth affects the central nervous system by causing euphoria and the cardiovascular system by increasing blood pressure and pulse. It can also cause cardiac arrhythmia and stroke, State Police spokesman Jay Powers said. Long-term effects include insomnia, irritability, aggressiveness, stomach disorders, weight loss, paranoid psychosis and auditory and visual hallucinations. Dangerous Chemicals According to the State Police, chemicals used in meth production are flammable, with fires often occurring during production. Lack of ventilation and prolonged exposure to the fumes can cause death. Improper storage can cause the chemicals to deteriorate or eat through the containers. The waste products are considered hazardous materials and are never disposed of properly. Most often, the waste is dumped in creeks or dumpsters or is flushed down the drain. Roughly one pound of meth can produce about eight pounds of hazardous waste, Powers said. Law enforcement officers face danger when investigating these laboratories, he added. "The toxic fumes can overwhelm an unsuspecting officer who may be in a residence where a laboratory is located," Powers said. "Many times the manufacturers protect their laboratories by placing 'booby traps' in or around the immediate area. These traps can be explosive and deadly in nature." Indicators of a clandestine lab include a lot of pedestrian traffic and a chemical odor around a residence, shed or outbuilding; large quantities of antihistamine tablets and laboratory glassware; and ventilation fans running, especially in cold weather. The State Police encourages anyone who might have information about a suspected clandestine laboratory to call the Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 304-558-2600.