Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jul 2001 Source: Duluth News-Tribune (MN) Copyright: 2001 Duluth News-Tribune Contact: http://www.duluthnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/553 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) METH LABS COULD DOUBLE IN MINNESOTA ROCHESTER, Minn. -- A state investigator estimated the number of methamphetamine labs seized in Minnesota could double each year for the next few years, bringing with them thousands of pounds of toxic waste, paranoid addicts and dangerous criminals. "In terms of raw numbers of labs, it will get worse before it gets better,'' said Tim O'Malley, special investigation supervisor at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Narcotics officers in Minnesota seized about 192 pounds of meth last year, and arrested 1,206 people on meth-related charges, compared to 944 arrests in 1999. In 1997, police seized 21 labs. In 1999, there were 110. Last year, 144. O'Malley predicted 350 labs will be seized in Minnesota this year. He attributed the increased activity in Minnesota to Iowa law enforcement's effort to clamp down. Wisconsin and Michigan also are seeing increases in meth seizures, he said. Meth is a powerful and addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. The chemicals used to create it produce toxic fumes and have caused fires and explosions. Police said the lure for meth manufacturers is simple. It costs only $150 to $200 to make a batch that sells for $3,000 to $4,000 -- 1 to 2 ounces of meth per batch, 280 hits to the ounce, a high of four hours per hit. Authorities describe each meth lab as a miniature toxic waste dump. Cooking a batch of homemade meth produces about 6 pounds of toxic waste that is often dumped in back yards, ditches, fire pits and septic systems. The drug is cooked from common ingredients, including ether, drain cleaner, acetone, cold pills with ephedrine, lye and anhydrous ammonia -- an unstable fertilizer that can burn skin or explode. "This is not just a law enforcement problem. It's a huge public safety problem,'' O'Malley said. "To look at it from strictly a law enforcement problem is a mistake.'' - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe