Pubdate: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 Source: Sun Herald (MS) Copyright: 2003, The Sun Herald Contact: http://www.sunherald.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432 Author: Reggie Beehner STATE LEADS IN PASSING METH LAWS Chemical Sites Under Surveillance For Years The use of methamphetamine in South Mississippi may have taken law enforcement agencies by surprise when it first exploded onto the scene in the late 1990s, but officials say the state has taken crucial steps in combating the problem in recent years. In 1999, Mississippi lawmakers passed legislation that gave authorities a much-needed weapon to crack down on the drug's proliferation. The measure, one of the first of its kind in the nation, outlawed the possession of two or more ingredients, or precursors, required in the manufacture of meth, so long as the person demonstrated an intent to make the drug. Before the law, even if someone had "a car trunk full of meth ingredients and a recipe on the passenger seat," authorities couldn't make an arrest. Now, however, authorities get tips when precursors are purchased or stolen and can make pre-emptive strikes before the highly combustible drug can be cooked. "It's been an extremely effective tool," said Tim Rutledge, special operations director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. "And as the bad guys have adapted and found new ways to make meth, we've had to add new measures to the law." Sunday morning's botched attempt to steal anhydrous ammonia, which triggered a toxic gas leak and widespread evacuations in Gulfport, may have slipped beneath police radar. But authorities say they've been monitoring such chemical sites for years, yielding numerous arrests. In addition, many police agencies in South Mississippi conduct regular seminars that are open to local businesses and residents and offer instruction on how to protect themselves from meth-related thefts. Those sessions have raised the awareness in the community, bolstering law enforcement's efforts to keep a close watch on local stores or other sites where precursors are available. "People now know what to look for," said Dwayne Brewer, resident agent in charge of the bureau's Gulfport district office. On Saturday, residents phoned in a tip to police that two "suspicious persons" were at a U.S. 90 business in Gulfport which harbored a tank of anhydrous ammonia, a gas used in meth's manufacture. That led to the arrest of two Alabama men, whom police charged with attempted theft of the chemical. Still, meth arrests have not shown any signs of decline. Authorities are pushing for more legislation, including a measure that would ensure autopsies are performed on anyone who dies of a drug overdose. "That would help us stay on top of the current drug trends," Rutledge said. "And if someone died from a bad batch of meth, we could find out where it came from and get to the source before anyone else was killed." - --- MAP posted-by: Alex