Pubdate: Sat, 04 Jun 2005 Source: Athens Banner-Herald (GA) Copyright: 2005 Athens Newspapers Inc Contact: http://www.onlineathens.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1535 Author: Harry R. Weber Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) AUTHORITIES MAKE MAJOR ARREST IN METH PROBE Indictments Unsealed ATLANTA (AP) -- Forty-nine people and 16 corporations were charged in indictments unsealed Friday with supplying common everyday items from antifreeze to matchbooks to informants who had claimed they were using the products to make methamphetamine. The investigation, which began in early 2004, focused on convenience stores in six north Georgia counties and was based on complaints from the public. Authorities began arresting the suspects Friday. Businesses raided in the investigation ranged from small groceries or delis to tobacco shops. Investigators had informants go into each of the stores and buy ingredients used to make methamphetamine after telling the clerk or owner of the store that the items were being sought for that purpose. The ingredients sold included pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, camping fuel, antifreeze and matchbooks. The items are not illegal to sell, but selling them for the purposes of making meth is. The government said in a statement accompanying the indictments, which were returned May 7 but sealed until Friday, that because of the increase of meth manufacturing in eastern Tennessee, northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama, a "gray market" has developed. The counties the investigation focused on are Catoosa, Chattooga, Floyd, Whitfield, Walker and Dade. - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl