Pubdate: Sun, 28 Aug 2005
Source: Star-Gazette (NY)
Copyright: 2005sStar-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.stargazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1005
Author: Brooke J. Sherman
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

N.Y. SEES A DROP IN METH LABS

Only Five Labs Found As Of March, Compared With 53 Busted Last Year

As Bradford County continues to battle the meth epidemic, the Southern Tier 
is witnessing a reprieve from the drug that threatens to plague the nation.

New York State Police Lt. Patrick Garey said the numbers of labs discovered 
is on the decline in the state.:

2000 - eight labs.

2001 - 19 labs.

2002 - 45 labs.

2003 - 73 labs.

2004 - 53 labs.

As of March, only five meth lab discoveries were reported in New York, he said.

Bradford County alone has had 30 meth labs busted this year as of early 
August, said Thomas Marino, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of 
Pennsylvania.

Garey isn't sure why the numbers are on decline in New York while 
neighboring Pennsylvania continues to struggle. He has some theories though.

"I think what has happened is that whole area of Pennsylvania is just a 
more rural, widespread area with probably a less daily or less concentrated 
law enforcement," he said.

"In general, it is easier for (meth makers) to hide down there, which makes 
it easier for them to produce the drug and makes it harder to find them."

Garey is relieved to see the numbers on the decline.

"I think numbers wise, that right there showed there is definitely some 
impact that we've made," he said.

"Part of that is definitely that they (meth makers) have gotten a little 
better at hiding. We've (also) taken out some of the biggest cooks. That 
quieted it down a little bit. And, the meth makers have modified the way 
they operate."

By learning how neighbors on the West Coast, where meth began more than 30 
years ago, have dealt with the meth battle, New York has worked 
aggressively to combat the drug and pass stronger laws to fight it, Garey said.

"It's hard to (characterize the meth problem). What we did in New York when 
we saw the problem in late 1999, 2000, as a state we jumped on it so 
aggressively and got the word out through the media and the law enforcement 
agencies," he said. "Almost everybody is aware of the meth problem."

That awareness and public education has helped Elmira, Police Chief W. 
Scott Drake III said.

"I do think the education going on helped. (Drug users) know it's bad. They 
look at it as bad stuff," Drake said. "But, I know in Bradford County, just 
across the border, they have a tremendous problem."

Cooperation from local stores to limit the sale of Sudafed and other 
medicines containing psuedoephedrine (a key meth component) also has helped 
to curb the meth production in the area, Drake said.

The problem hasn't disappeared, he is quick to state, and officers continue 
to receive specialized meth training to fight the drug.

Three Elmira police officers just returned from Drug Enforcement 
Administration training in Quantico, Va. There, they learned more about 
investigating and safely entering the toxic meth lab sites.

"As of right now, we are finding that most of our meth is coming out of 
Pennsylvania," Drake said.

"I can't say (meth use is) not going on, but people aren't talking about it 
as much. It all peaked around when the (two Bradford County) deputies were 
killed (March 31, 2004). People that may get involved with (meth) are 
saying, 'That's too dangerous for me.' "
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