Pubdate: Sat, 24 Apr 2004 Source: Amarillo Globe-News (TX) Copyright: 2004 Amarillo Globe-News Contact: http://amarillonet.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/13 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/tulia.htm (Tulia, Texas) LONG ARM OF LAW GETS SHORT-ARMED PRNTTF Painted With Broad Brush What was described by law enforcement as "one of the largest meth labs found to date" was shut down Tuesday in Amarillo. According to the Amarillo Police Department, equipment used to create methamphetamine was found in two places in a northwest Amarillo mobile home and in a nearby vehicle. "Large amounts" of drug equipment and related items were confiscated. It is worth noting one of the law enforcement entities that participated in the bust - the Panhandle Regional Narcotics Trafficking Task Force. Yes, the same task force that received a black eye for the infamous 1999 Tulia drug sting. The well-publicized Tulia fiasco created a national controversy regarding the integrity and competency of certain law enforcement agencies, primarily the PRNTTF. The aftershocks of Tulia have resulted in almost every county in the PRNTTF reaching a monetary settlement with those wrongly convicted in the sting. The city of Amarillo forked over $5 million, by far the largest of any single entity in the PRNTTF. The question of financial liability prompted city leaders to dissolve the city's membership with the PRNTTF, creating serious doubt as to its future. Clearly, Tulia and the recent meth lab bust are separate issues. However, the broad interpretation of the PRNTTF based on the reprehensible actions of a few people in Tulia, one of whom has his own court date, is not an accurate depiction. Ask any law enforcement official about the growing and dangerous presence of methamphetamine, not only in the Panhandle but across the nation. Law enforcement entities such as the PRNTTF can be a useful weapon against what is becoming a drug-use epidemic. Tuesday is proof of that. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin