| From the D.A.'s Desk Sam Oatman, District Attorney 33rd/424th Judicial District http://www.33districtattorney.com |
Methamphetamine, a manufactured, highly addictive drug, is “the scourge of rural areas across the
nation,” says U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) spokesman Rusty Payne. “Meth is now the No. 1
drug in rural America — absolutely, positively.”
Called the poor man's cocaine, meth is popular because the effects are so powerful and last longer
than many other mind-bending drugs. Meth affects the central nervous system and gives the user an intense
feeling of pleasure. The drug has a phenomenal rate of addiction. Some users often get hooked after just
one use. But there's more to meth than the suffering and havoc it causes users. It also exacts a heavy price
tag from rural law enforcement, and can economically hamstring landlords whose properties, unbeknownst to
them, are used to produce meth. You see, the seclusion that ranchers and farmers value in their lifestyles is
also a reason meth is streaming into rural America.
“International traffickers are aggressively targeting rural areas, where they think they can escape law
enforcement,” Payne adds.
Rural areas are popular sites for production because the strong odors produced during manufacture
can dissipate. Meth cooks are even zeroing in on sites downwind from feedlots, dairies, hog barns and
chicken sheds. Compounding detection efforts is the increasing use of mobile labs where cooking is
performed in stages at different locations.
Meth is a simple drug to produce and the ingredients are readily available and inexpensive. The key
ingredient of meth is ephedrine, a controlled substance that is difficult to obtain. Thus, dealers cook
ephedrine by removing buffers from pseudo-ephedrine found in many over-the-counter medicines. Large
quantities of red phosphorous and iodine are often used in this process.
Typically after a lab is seized, the bulk of any lab-related debris is removed and saved for evidence.
But, even after a meth lab is shut down, the property can be saturated with hazardous chemicals.
Contaminants can remain on surfaces, in carpets, furniture, sinks, drains, and septic and ventilation systems.
Law enforcement officials estimate the manufacture of 1 lb. of meth results in 5-6 lbs. of toxic waste.
Many states are working to address the cleanup problem associated with meth lab seizures. The
owner of the property may be held liable if a person gets sick from entering a contaminated building. In
Oregon, realtors and property owners must warn prospective buyers or tenants about contaminated
residences. There, former lab sites are put on a special list and information about the possible hazards is
added to the property title. Currently, no nationwide method exists for tracking or listing meth sites.
Getting Your Attention
Response across the country to the cleanup of these properties has ranged from doing nothing to
complete demolition. Few states, though, are willing or able to share in cleanup costs.
“In this state, at least, if you own the contaminated property you pay for the cleanup, and the costs can
sometimes be enough to break you,” warns Lee Cornell, a Montana Department of Justice agent. “If there's
no other reason to be watching for meth labs, that alone ought to get your attention.”
The DEA says cleanup runs from $2,000 to $10,000/lab depending on size. In some cases, costs
have exceeded $150,000. In Arkansas, 719 meth sites were seized last year — up from 461 seizures in
2002 and 404 seizures in 2001. “We're never going to be able to afford to pay for the cleanup of these
sites,” says recently retired Arkansas State crime lab director Jim Clark. Missouri Gov. Bob Holden has
pushed for a bold and comprehensive campaign to fight the use and manufacturing of meth in his state. Last
year Missouri led the nation with 3,000 meth lab seizures due to aggressive efforts by law enforcement and
prosecutors. Setting aside the “practicalities” of the exploding meth epidemic, the overall seriousness of the
problems resulting from this drug threat can't be overstated.
“Perhaps more than any other drug, methamphetamine puts all of us — users and nonusers alike —
at risk,” says Armand McClintock, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA's Indianapolis, IN, district
office. “The innocence of children, the fortitude of law enforcement, and the pristine state of our ecosystem
are not immune to meth's dangers.”
What To Look For
Besides those who use meth, small toxic labs are the principal threat to local communities. Many
people may be unaware they live near a meth lab. Properties used to produce meth will usually be found
with a lab-like setting, including containers of chemicals, heat sources and various types of lab equipment.
Some other things to look for are:
• Unusual, strong odors such as ether, ammonia, acetone or other chemicals.
• Renters who pay their rent in cash. Residences with windows that are blacked out.
• People coming and going at unusual times. Or, places that are quiet during the day but see
increased activity at night.
• Excessive trash, including large amounts of antifreeze containers, lantern fuel cans, red stained
coffee filters, drain cleaner and duct tape.
• Unusual amounts of clear glass containers being brought into the residence.
In Texas, Meth continues to be manufactured by motorcycle gangs and independent producers.
Small clandestine labs producing extremely high-quality meth are found in both rural and urban areas.
This article printed by permission of Clint Peck Senior Editor, Beef Magazine
In Re-printing this article, I am in hopes many questions will be answered relating to a growing
number of "Meth Labs" in the 33rd Judicial District which includes Blano, Burnet, Llano and San Saba
Counties. Another reason for this reprint is that this trade magazine is not usually read by citizens not
directly related to agriculture. There are works in the mill that will hopefully address this drug problem soon.
Sam Oatman, District Attorney http://www.33districtattorney.com
nation,” says U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) spokesman Rusty Payne. “Meth is now the No. 1
drug in rural America — absolutely, positively.”
Called the poor man's cocaine, meth is popular because the effects are so powerful and last longer
than many other mind-bending drugs. Meth affects the central nervous system and gives the user an intense
feeling of pleasure. The drug has a phenomenal rate of addiction. Some users often get hooked after just
one use. But there's more to meth than the suffering and havoc it causes users. It also exacts a heavy price
tag from rural law enforcement, and can economically hamstring landlords whose properties, unbeknownst to
them, are used to produce meth. You see, the seclusion that ranchers and farmers value in their lifestyles is
also a reason meth is streaming into rural America.
“International traffickers are aggressively targeting rural areas, where they think they can escape law
enforcement,” Payne adds.
Rural areas are popular sites for production because the strong odors produced during manufacture
can dissipate. Meth cooks are even zeroing in on sites downwind from feedlots, dairies, hog barns and
chicken sheds. Compounding detection efforts is the increasing use of mobile labs where cooking is
performed in stages at different locations.
Meth is a simple drug to produce and the ingredients are readily available and inexpensive. The key
ingredient of meth is ephedrine, a controlled substance that is difficult to obtain. Thus, dealers cook
ephedrine by removing buffers from pseudo-ephedrine found in many over-the-counter medicines. Large
quantities of red phosphorous and iodine are often used in this process.
Typically after a lab is seized, the bulk of any lab-related debris is removed and saved for evidence.
But, even after a meth lab is shut down, the property can be saturated with hazardous chemicals.
Contaminants can remain on surfaces, in carpets, furniture, sinks, drains, and septic and ventilation systems.
Law enforcement officials estimate the manufacture of 1 lb. of meth results in 5-6 lbs. of toxic waste.
Many states are working to address the cleanup problem associated with meth lab seizures. The
owner of the property may be held liable if a person gets sick from entering a contaminated building. In
Oregon, realtors and property owners must warn prospective buyers or tenants about contaminated
residences. There, former lab sites are put on a special list and information about the possible hazards is
added to the property title. Currently, no nationwide method exists for tracking or listing meth sites.
Getting Your Attention
Response across the country to the cleanup of these properties has ranged from doing nothing to
complete demolition. Few states, though, are willing or able to share in cleanup costs.
“In this state, at least, if you own the contaminated property you pay for the cleanup, and the costs can
sometimes be enough to break you,” warns Lee Cornell, a Montana Department of Justice agent. “If there's
no other reason to be watching for meth labs, that alone ought to get your attention.”
The DEA says cleanup runs from $2,000 to $10,000/lab depending on size. In some cases, costs
have exceeded $150,000. In Arkansas, 719 meth sites were seized last year — up from 461 seizures in
2002 and 404 seizures in 2001. “We're never going to be able to afford to pay for the cleanup of these
sites,” says recently retired Arkansas State crime lab director Jim Clark. Missouri Gov. Bob Holden has
pushed for a bold and comprehensive campaign to fight the use and manufacturing of meth in his state. Last
year Missouri led the nation with 3,000 meth lab seizures due to aggressive efforts by law enforcement and
prosecutors. Setting aside the “practicalities” of the exploding meth epidemic, the overall seriousness of the
problems resulting from this drug threat can't be overstated.
“Perhaps more than any other drug, methamphetamine puts all of us — users and nonusers alike —
at risk,” says Armand McClintock, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA's Indianapolis, IN, district
office. “The innocence of children, the fortitude of law enforcement, and the pristine state of our ecosystem
are not immune to meth's dangers.”
What To Look For
Besides those who use meth, small toxic labs are the principal threat to local communities. Many
people may be unaware they live near a meth lab. Properties used to produce meth will usually be found
with a lab-like setting, including containers of chemicals, heat sources and various types of lab equipment.
Some other things to look for are:
• Unusual, strong odors such as ether, ammonia, acetone or other chemicals.
• Renters who pay their rent in cash. Residences with windows that are blacked out.
• People coming and going at unusual times. Or, places that are quiet during the day but see
increased activity at night.
• Excessive trash, including large amounts of antifreeze containers, lantern fuel cans, red stained
coffee filters, drain cleaner and duct tape.
• Unusual amounts of clear glass containers being brought into the residence.
In Texas, Meth continues to be manufactured by motorcycle gangs and independent producers.
Small clandestine labs producing extremely high-quality meth are found in both rural and urban areas.
This article printed by permission of Clint Peck Senior Editor, Beef Magazine
In Re-printing this article, I am in hopes many questions will be answered relating to a growing
number of "Meth Labs" in the 33rd Judicial District which includes Blano, Burnet, Llano and San Saba
Counties. Another reason for this reprint is that this trade magazine is not usually read by citizens not
directly related to agriculture. There are works in the mill that will hopefully address this drug problem soon.
Sam Oatman, District Attorney http://www.33districtattorney.com
| Got Meth? |