Pubdate: Sun, 17 Dec 2006 Source: Frontiersman, The (Wasilla, AK) Copyright: 2006 Wick Communications Contact: http://www.frontiersman.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1532 Author: Mary Ames METH DOWN, HEROIN ON RISE MAT-SU - Lately, when grand juries hand up indictments for drug charges, meth-lab cooks are conspicuously absent, and the drugs of choice now seem to be heroin, cocaine and pills. In October, Michael Pope was indicted for possession of cocaine, heroin and a firearm near Wasilla. In November, Tom Hess and Kim Hutchings were indicted for possession of heroin, cocaine, methadone and a prescription anti-anxiety medication in Palmer. In December, Michael Whiting was indicted for possession of cocaine, oxycodone and hydrocodone. Law enforcement officers and a former assistant district attorney who primarily prosecuted drug cases acknowledge a drop in the number of meth labs in the Valley, and cite reasons for the difference. Kelly Turney, an investigator and patrol officer with the Palmer police, credited aggressive prosecution by the district attorney's office and aggressive sentencing by judges for the reduction in methamphetamine cooks setting up shop locally. "It's really hampered the dealers, makers and users from doing what they do," Turney said. "What we see more and more is heroin, and cocaine that is made into crack." The heroin found includes a liquid form with a rich vinegar smell, he said, and users put it into nasal inhalers or inject it. Methamphetamine is still out there, but the number of labs definitely is down, he said. "Now, the meth we're seeing is actual crystal meth - ice," Turney said. Turney noted 11 pounds of meth seized in Anchorage Nov. 30, after police intercepted a package sent from California through FedEx. "It's made in a different location, usually Mexico or overseas, and imported," he said. Sgt. Robert Langendorfer, an Alaska State Trooper with the Mat-Su Narcotics Unit, said many factors play into the reduction of Mat-Su meth labs. "Clearly, meth labs are down," Langendorfer said. "Laws are certainly a plus, but not the only factor." People getting busted and good prosecution are some of the reasons meth-lab numbers are down, but not the only reasons, he said. "The community taking the problem seriously, that helps us," Langendorfer said. "Some cooks are in jail, that helps us. It's more difficult to get (the ingredients), that helps us. It helped, but it didn't fix it. " Meth is too much of an addiction for people to easily to give it up, and it is an epidemic, he said. Langendorfer confirmed the increase in imported meth, saying it comes from a number of different sources, but couldn't say for certain there is more heroin in the region. "I can say we're seeing more," he said. "Maybe there is more, or we are seeing more. It's always changing, and we have to figure it out." Curt Martin, who now works with the Department of Law in another capacity, prosecuted many drug cases as a Palmer assistant district attorney. Martin said legislation making ingredients less readily available helped a little to reduce the number of meth labs, but he cited other causes that had a greater affect. "It's good cop work," Martin said. "They are relentless. That's a huge reason for success." Martin also cited the involvement of others in addressing the problem of meth labs in the Valley. "Carrs and Fred Meyer train their staff, and some of their employees are phenomenal," Martin said. "It's a community effort." Drug users wising up also might be a contributing factor in the reduction of meth labs, he said. "Every time we serve a search warrant, we have to leave a copy at the house," he said. "That's an educational tool." Legislation classifying meth-amphetamine as a Schedule I narcotic in Alaska, a more serious classification than its current status as a Schedule II, is what Martin would like to see. "Why not Schedule I?" Martin said. "That's what gripes me. It's the most insidious drug, but there's not much penalty when it's Schedule II." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek