Pubdate: Sun, 16 Jan 2005
Source: Bluefield Daily Telegraph (WV)
Copyright: 2005 Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Contact:  http://www.bdtonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1483
Author: Jody Neal, Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

METH NEXT CHALLENGE?

WELCH - Methamphet-amine labs are smelly, dangerous and apparently
hard to find in Four Seasons Country.

McDowell County Chief Deputy Mark Shelton took down a meth lab in
January, 2004, but hasn't seen another since then. "We haven't taken
down any other labs but we are receiving information every day about
more labs being in the area, which includes Mercer and McDowell
counties," he said.

Shelton, a former member of the Southern Regional Drug and Violent
Crimes Task Force, said another lab was discovered last year in
Wyoming County. "It's a growing problem in our department, along with
the Mercer Sheriff's Department and the Bluefield and Princeton
police," Shelton said. "We're getting our guys certified in meth lab
training and as of right now, everyone on the drug unit is certified."

Although they've been unable to find any more meth labs in the region,
Shelton said finding methamphetamine, also known as speed, crystal, or
meth, isn't hard to do. "We're still finding the finished product.
We've made drug purchases in Mercer and McDowell counties and we have
been getting numerous complaints of possible meth labs," he said.

And the Sheriff's Department is taking a proactive approach to the
growing problem as well. "We've been giving talks to neighborhood
watch groups to watch for signs of meth lab activity. It's such a
serious problem that we've got to get a handle on it before it goes
out of control," Shelton said.

Tazewell County Chief Deputy L.J. Howington said his department hasn't
seen any meth activity yet. "I'm not saying that it's not here, but
we've had no dealings of it being in the county," Howington said.
"Some of the other counties around us are saying that they were seeing
more meth labs, but we haven't seen any sign of abuse."

In Mercer County, Chief Deputy D.B. Bailey said his department hasn't
busted any people building meth labs. "We've had no meth labs, but we
are running across people with meth. I feel that this is something
that's on it's way to our area," he said.

Bailey said he suspects that meth labs could already be in the area.
"Whenever you see the drug, you suspect that it's probably here, and
if not, it'll be here soon," he said.

Most of the meth crimes are being handled by the Southern Regional
Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, Bailey said.

Some signs to watch for if a person suspects that a meth lab exists
include large volumes of garbage that contains items such as matches
and Sudafed  cold boxes. "There should be a bunch of them," Shelton
said. "Also smell for funny odors of solvents. When people cook meth
it gives off a strange odor."
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