Pubdate: Sat, 23 Sep 2006 Source: Mohave Valley Daily News (AZ) Copyright: 2006 Mohave Valley News Contact: http://www.mohavedailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3625 Author: Jim Seckler Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) METHAMPHETAMINE HAS POISONED STATE FOR 20 YEARS KINGMAN - California outlaw motorcycle gangs were the pioneers in bringing methamphetamine into Mohave County. Sheriff Tom Sheahan said outlaw motorcycle gangs in California were the first to import meth into Mohave County and Arizona about 20 years ago. The ingredients to produce meth were easily available leading meth to be the drug of choice throughout the county and the state. The Eastern states in the country are now experiencing what the Western states have experienced 20 years ago, Sheahan said. In 2004, the sheriff's office conducted 554 drug arrests. In 2005, there were 591 drug arrests. About 70 percent of all drug arrests involve methamphetamine. Sheahan said this year there has been about 350 to 400 drug arrests so far this year. The sheriff estimates about 600 drug arrests for 2006. Bullhead City Police Chief Rodney Head said meth and marijuana are the drugs of choice and are easily accessible in the Tri-state. Meth can be easily produced with a limited knowledge of chemistry and made cheaply using common household items. Head said the city ordinances passed by the Bullhead and Kingman city councils to restrict the sale of ingredients used to make meth have helped in the fight against the drug. Head also said meth, a relatively new drug in the central and eastern areas of the country, has been a problem in Arizona and the Southwest for the past two decades. Bullhead City Police officers have made 27 arrests for the sale of synthetic meth, 107 arrests for the possession of synthetic meth and 173 arrests for the possession of drug paraphernalia in 2006 as of Aug. 31. In 2005, there were 48 arrests for the sale of synthetic meth, 190 arrests for the possession of synthetic meth and 294 arrests for the possession of drug paraphernalia. Total drug arrests in 2005 increased by more than 13 percent from the year before. Total value of drugs seized in 2005 was $156,900, a 39 percent increase from 2004. In 2004, there were 48 arrests for the sale of synthetic meth, 148 arrests for the possession of synthetic meth and 227 arrests for the possession of drug paraphernalia. Total drug arrests so far in 2006 are 489. In 2005, there were 786 drug arrests and there were 737 drug arrests in 2004. Drugs include meth, marijuana and cocaine. The number of meth labs has decreased in recent years in the county because of the enforcement and the increasing difficulty in buying items used to make meth, Sheahan said. About four to five years ago, sheriff detectives raided 50 to 65 meth labs. Last year, only about 20 labs were discovered, Sheahan said. In Arizona, local labs have decreased from 320 meth labs discovered in 2001 to 75 meth labs discovered in 2005, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Meth production has shifted to Mexico where large "super labs" can produce larger and cheaper amounts and better quality meth. Mexico does not have the regulations that this country has to purchase ingredients used to make the drug. It is estimated that about 70 percent of the methamphetamine produced now comes from Mexico's super labs, which is then smuggled into this country. Mexico and Arizona share a 450-mile border, which Sheahan calls porous and needs to be secured. The sheriff said until the federal government secures the border, meth will continue to be a problem in Mohave County and the state. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman