Pubdate: Mon, 26 Jan 2004
Source: Sidelines, The (TN Edu)
Copyright: 2004 Middle Tennessee State University
Contact:  http://www.mtsusidelines.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2861
Author: Jason Cox

STATEWIDE HOTLINE IN PLACE TO REPORT METH ACTIVITY, SALE

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has launched a hotline for citizens 
to give tips on suspected methamphetamine labs and sales rings.

The intelligence-gathering system will be spearheaded by the hotline, 
1-877-TNN-METH (877-866-6384).

"Efforts similar to MethWatch have proven very effective in other places," 
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Interim Director David Griswold said in a 
press release issued Monday. "The hope is that by taking the initiative 
statewide, existing efforts to crackdown on the production of meth can be 
augmented."

The TBI will be using the information from the hotline along with 
communication with retailers, who can report purchases of large quantities 
of items associated with the production of the drug.

The Rutherford County Sheriffs Department Narcotics Division has already 
been working with local retailers to identify potential suspects, and Det. 
Thomas Bunch said the tips from store employees and owners, combined with 
tips called into the narcotics division, can lead to lab busts and arrests.

"I can look at (a) house, I can pull the tags, I can pull the electricity 
and find out who lives there," Bunch said.

"Well, it just so happens that the tag number at that house is one of the 
tag numbers that one of my stores are giving me.

"So now I've gotta try to get a [confidential informant] to purchase the 
methamphetamine," he said, "or do I ... catch him when he's on the road 
when he's got all this paraphernalia ... you can be arrested if you have 
methamphetamine components."

Bunch said that the problem is growing rapidly in Rutherford County, 
reflecting a statewide trend, although he said it is not the near-epidemic 
here that it is in more rural areas, such as the Upper Cumberland region of 
Tennessee.

"Within the last year, it's risen," Bunch said, "probably two or three fold 
worse than what it used to be."

The RCSD has assigned a detective to work full-time on methampetamine cases.

He has undergone training with the Drug Enforcement Agency in Nashville, 
and all of the narcotics officers have taken classes on methamphetamine 
production and how to identify and investigate a potential manufacturing lab.

Also as part of the statewide program, posters and signs identifying 
products used in the production of methampetamine will be posted in stores 
that sell the products.

The drug is relatively cheap to produce and is made from common items such 
as matches, cold medicine, household cleaners and lithium batteries.

The hotline is open now and will be available 24 hours.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman