Pubdate: Thu, 31 Jan 2002
Source: Southern Standard, The (TN)
Copyright: 2002 Southern Standard & The Smithville Review
Contact:  http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=941
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1513
Author: Duane Sherrill
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH TASK FORCE COMBINES RESOURCES FROM SEVERAL AGENCIES

Prosecuting over 100 defendants over the past year, the Southeastern 
Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force has combined law enforcement agencies 
in hopes of combating the meth epidemic.

Given their recent impact, the task force has released a new hotline number 
citizens can call to report suspected methamphetamine trafficking at 
1-866-RID-METH.

According to latest statistics released by the task force, over 350 
clandestine meth labs were seized in Tennessee during 2001, a drastic 
increase from 2000 when just over 200 were seized. Many of the labs were 
seized in Warren County; however, the exact number of labs seized here last 
year is unknown.

The number of labs raided in Tennessee dwarfs other states as neighboring 
Georgia had just over 100 seizures while states like South Carolina and 
North Carolina had only a handful last year.

The Southeastern Tennessee Task Force is a combination of several local, 
state and federal law enforcement agencies which includes McMinnville 
Police Department, Warren County Sheriff's Department and the 31st Judicial 
District Attorney's office of Dale Potter. Most of those arrested by the 
task force are prosecuted in federal court, where sentences run much longer 
than on the state level.

According to the task force, meth is made using common household items 
which are often purchased in stores by meth-makers. The fumes put off by 
the manufacture of the drug are harmful and prolonged exposure to them can 
cause serious illness and even death. Labs are also highly explosive and 
have been blamed for several deaths across the state.

In asking the public's help in identifying meth labs, the task force has 
revealed some tell-tale signs of meth traffickers, which when combined, 
could point a finger at a trafficker. The signs include frequent visitors 
at the home night and day, frequent late-night activity, windows blackened 
or curtains always drawn, the person is unemployed yet still drives an 
expensive car, the person seems to always have plenty of money and pays 
bills with cash, secretive about activities, watches cars suspiciously when 
they pass by, paranoid or odd behavior, extensive attention to security, 
chemical odors coming from the house or out-buildings, garbage frequently 
has numerous bottles or larger containers, and behavior such as setting out 
their garbage in their neighbor's collection area.

While some of the aforementioned circumstances could cover many people, a 
combination of several of the items could be indicative of illegal 
activity. Anyone suspecting meth activity in their neighborhood is asked to 
contact the hotline or one of the local law enforcement agencies.
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MAP posted-by: Beth