Pubdate: Tue, 16 Sep 2003
Source: Maneater, The (Columbia, MO Edu)
Copyright: 2003 The Maneater
Contact:  http://www.themaneater.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1283
Author: Derek Kravitz

BOND SAID MISSOURi NO. 1 IN METH

To combat Missouri's methamphetamine problem, Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo.,
announced on Wednesday the Missouri Sheriffs' Methamphetamine Relief Team
(MOSTMART) will receive more than $2.4 million in federal dollars for the
2003 fiscal year.

"It is a critical battle that we can't afford to lose," Bond spokesman Ernie
Blazar said. "We are losing lives."

Blazar said federal funding will help state law enforcement fight the
growing problem.

"The fight against meth is an expensive one, and our local law enforcement
cannot carry the load alone," Bond said in a statement. "These dollars are a
down payment and will help our sheriffs continue the fight."

MOSMART officials had complained a lack of state funding had severely
crippled their attempts to battle the statewide meth problem.

"Many of the counties involved with MOSMART have a hard time keeping fuel in
their vehicles, let alone having enough resources for personnel to use
them," said Sheriff John Jordan, MOSMART project director, in a press
release.

Ken Kreigh, supervisor of the Boone County Sheriff's Department Drug
Enforcement Unit, said although other areas in Missouri have seen a much
higher rise in meth production, Boone County has seen a sizable increase in
lab seizures during the last five years.

"It's a growing problem," Kreigh said. "It's not an epidemic, but we've
definitely seen an increase in meth. Five years ago we didn't see any. Now
we are seeing a fairly significant amount, so we are concerned."

Kreigh estimates there have been 16 meth labs seized by the Boone County
Sheriff's Department so far this year. In all of 2002, only nine seizures
were reported.

The Boone County Sheriff's Department attributes the rise of meth production
to the ease and inexpensive cost of its materials, most of which can be
purchased legally.

Missouri's location in the middle of the United States, the large number of
small towns, its rural makeup and the number of interstate highways has
helped it become the "meth capital of the country," according to a statement
released by Bond's office.

The MOSMART network that will receive the funds has 16 regional drug task
forces and 46 Sheriff's Departments statewide.

Established in 2000, the network has received nearly $7 million to combat
meth during the last three years.

In 2001, MOSMART reported the seizure of 1,235 meth labs and the arrests of
2,239 people for either manufacturing, attempting to manufacture or
possessing meth.

Last year those numbers rose to 2,172 seized meth labs and 4,824 people
arrested for meth-related offenses.

"A lot of people cook meth out in the middle of nowhere so they can't be
seen, but we have pharmacies on the lookout, receipts with their names on
it," MOSMART spokeswoman Karen Gramlisch said. "We're going to track them."
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