Pubdate: Thu, 08 Jun 2006 Source: Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, IL) Copyright: 2006 Southern Illinoisan Contact: http://www.TheSouthern.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1430 Author: Matt Adrian, The Southern Springfield Bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) SPECIAL METH UNITS MAKE 653 ARRESTS IN FIRST YEAR SPRINGFIELD--Illinois' special units for tracking down methamphetamine have made 653 arrests and seized more than 213,000 grams of drugs in their first year. State officials played up these statistics as proof that Illinois is getting a handle on the methamphetamine problem. "The dangers associated with meth go well beyond the user -- the process of making the drug puts families, neighbors and even entire communities at risk," said Gov. Rod Blagojevich in a prepared statement. "The results from the first year are very encouraging, which shows that the response teams are making a difference." In May 2005, the state was divided up into multi-county districts each with a Meth Response Team. These units are focused on proving relief to local law enforcement blitzed by increased methamphetamine-related crime. "Local law enforcement was just getting crushed in overtime hours on meth investigations," said state Rep. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, who led a legislative task force that recommended the creation of these specialized units. "It helps provide relief to local counties that are paying for this through local property taxes." In 2000, local drug task forces made 605 meth arrests. By 2004, the number of arrests jumped to 1,264. The units free up police to focus on other illegal substances such as marijuana and cocaine, according to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. The response teams also help clean up hazardous waste left over from a meth lab. Over the last year, the units have seized 35,114 grams of finished methamphetamine. The remaining 177,810 grams was in a liquid state, which is later dried into a powder. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman