Pubdate: Fri, 10 Aug 2007
Source: Richmond News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007, Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc.
Contact:  http://www.richmond-news.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1244
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH WASTE DUMPED

Apparatus Used To Make Crystal Meth

Products used to produce crystal meth were found by a local worker in 
a Bridgeport industrial park dumpster Tuesday.

Police and firefighters were called to the Bridgeport Road site just 
west of Shell Road after bags containing acetone and toluene 
containers, tubes, buckets and plastic gloves were found in a 
dumpster that had been broken into.

According to Richmond RCMP spokeswoman Cpl. Nycki Basra, "It is the 
combination of the materials that were there -- empty chemical 
containers -- and the fact that they are put in a private dumpster 
where the lock is pried off that would lead us to believe there's 
something illegal."

Basra said local police have noted "a substantial increase both in 
the number of labs and dump sites for meth labs in the last couple of years."

But Basra also said the garbage, which was removed by a hazardous 
materials team, might not have been from Richmond. "It could be from anywhere."

Still, she said "Anyone who was using them legitimately would know 
how to dispose of them and not pry into a private dumpster."

A similar find in early June in Surrey's Whalley neighbourhood caused 
the evacuation of four homes and a construction site. In February, 
meth lab products were also found near an elementary school in 
Surrey. And in late April, North Vancouver RCMP found weapons and 270 
kilograms of crystal meth production chemicals.

An Aug. 8 police news release on the Richmond site noted: "The 
employee who handled the garbage is very lucky that there were not 
active ingredients as the garbage was mostly apparatus and empty containers."

"Inhalation of chemicals can obviously cause health problems," Basra 
said, and noted that meth lab production products are "very 
combustible and flammable and some can cause skin irritation."

Richmond RCMP have dealt with "several" meth lab dump sites this 
year, according to Basra.

The detachment's five-officer drug section investigated throughout 
Tuesday night and into Wednesday. No arrests had been made at press time.

Richmond RCMP also warn residents and local workers to call police if 
they find suspicious garbage that has a chemical-like smell.

"The dump sites most common are abandoned properties and anywhere a 
dumpster is insecure, or (around) new condo buildings," Basra said. 
"Meth labs are fairly portable and fairly easy to set up and they 
don't involve a lot of work."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman