Pubdate: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 Source: Cleveland Daily Banner (TN) Copyright: 2004 Cleveland Daily Banner Contact: http://www.clevelandbanner.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/947 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) BRADLEY COUNTY AT TOP FOR METH LAB SEIZURES Bradley County holds the top spot for methamphetamine lab seizures in Tennessee through 10 months of 2004, a statistic Bradley County Sheriff Dan Gilley attributes to an aggressive drug enforcement program. The latest report from the Southeast Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force shows 112 lab seizures in the county by the Drug Enforcement Units of the Bradley County Sheriff's Office and the Cleveland Police Department, and the 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force. "It is unrealistic to think that Bradley County has a larger meth problem than cities or counties of equal size or three to four times our size. We have our drug enforcement people to thank for a unified effort to rid the county of this addictive substance," said Gilley. The report indicates 58 labs in Hamilton County, 11 in Knox, four in Davidson and 32 in Shelby (Memphis) during the same time frame. Bradley, McMinn, Monroe and Polk, comprising the 10th Judicial District, have one-fifth of the lab seizures in the state. "Two key factors for our success are the level of cooperation between the three agencies we have involved in the eradication of labs, and a unified message that we come down hard on meth producers," Gilley added. McMinn County, with 100 lab seizures, claims second place. Some counties and cities have adopted aggressive enforcement programs. Sheriff Gilley said, "Many people use Blount County for comparison because of its population and size similarities. But the report shows three labs this year and only seven since 1999." Through aggressive, persistent investigation, Gilley said they hope the message gets through that "Bradley County and the other counties of the 10th Judicial District are tough places to produce methamphetamine." The Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse, in its final report, concluded, "Tennessee is experiencing a noticeable increase in the activities of structured methamphetamine trafficking groups, illegally transporting large quantities of the drug into the country. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Mexican criminal organizations controlling much of the methamphetamine distribution in the southeast are found in and around Dalton, Ga." Meth evolved from a rural drug into urban and suburban neighborhoods, the report says, adding users and increasing the need for producers. Meth use has increased steadily each year since making an initial appearance in the late 1990s when only three labs were found in Bradley County. But that same year, 1999, there were 23 shut down in Grundy County and 40 in nearby Marion County, two areas where meth production in clandestine labs can be traced in southeast Tennessee. By 2000, the number of Bradley County labs tripled to nine. The following year it rose to 42, then 84 in 2002, but then declined to 64 in 2003. "At the pace we're on, there's a good chance we'll double that number by the end of the year," Gilley said. Statewide in 2004, more than 1,100 labs have been found in homes, cars, boats, garages, and even under the awning of a church. Since formation of SETMTF in 1999, Bradley County holds second place with 314 labs, behind Marion County with 400, but ahead of Hamilton County where 253 labs have been seized. The sheriff pointed out Marion County has seen a leveling off of labs over the last three years. "What this reflects is a strong effort by the southeast district task force after they were identified as one of the counties that was heavily involved," Gilley said. "We will continue working with (Cleveland Police) Chief Wes Snyder and District Attorney Jerry Estes to combine resources to get these people out of our neighborhoods and behind bars where they belong." State lawmakers will likely take up a review of laws on both the manufacture and use of methamphetamine when they convene at the state Capitol in January. The Governor's Task Force concluded its report with seven recommendations: - - Increase funding for methamphetamine treatment with an eye toward long-term initiatives. - - Educate communities about the dangers of methamphetamine abuse. - - Create new penalties and strengthen existing penalties for methamphetamine-related crimes. - - Commit resources to help children harmed by methamphetamine manufacturing and abuse. - - Limit the availability of precursor materials used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine. - - Address contamination caused by clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. - - Improve coordination between federal, state and local stakeholders. Research shows a 90 percent recidivism rate among methamphetamine users. Gilley concluded, "We take enforcement very seriously, we follow up on information, use our resources and eliminate labs as they become known to us." - --- MAP posted-by: Jackl