Pubdate: Thu, 04 Aug 2005 Source: Oklahoman, The (OK) Copyright: 2005 The Oklahoma Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.oklahoman.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318 Author: Michael McNutt Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) MEXICAN METH ON RISE As Oklahoma makes progress in cracking down on methamphetamine labs, Mexican-made versions of the drug are coming into the state in growing quantities, the head of Oklahoma's drug agency said Wednesday. Drug agents are turning their attention to the Mexican drug cartels, which recently have added meth along with drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and heroin, said Lonnie Wright, director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control. Agents think the cartel is shipping the drugs to about 20 "very major people that are bringing in tons of marijuana and multiple kilograms of cocaine" in Oklahoma, he said. The drugs are being brought by trucks and freight from Mexico, mostly on Interstate 35. Methamphetamine coming from Mexico is a purer form, and is commonly called ice or crystal ice, Wright said. "They're using Oklahoma not only to supply us, but as a base to ship to giant markets north and east of here," said Wright during a break at the annual training conference held by the Association of Oklahoma Narcotic Enforcers. The conference is being attended by about 400 drug officers from across Oklahoma and several other states at the Biltmore Hotel, 401 S Meridian. "We don't have any Hispanic agents and officers to speak of," Wright said. "How do you interview informants, go undercover, all of those traditional kinds of things? So we've got to make some changes and it's going to take some time, but we're focusing on the problem." Meth lab seizures have dropped by as much as 90 percent in some areas of Oklahoma during the past two years, Wright said. Drug agents seized nine meth labs in June, but only two were functioning, he said. Investigators in March 2004 seized 100 meth labs. Tom Cunningham, task force coordinator for the Oklahoma District Attorneys Council, said 22 task forces are looking at the cartels. The task forces are funded with $3.3 million in federal funds, Cunningham said. However, Congress is considering cutting that money. If so, state legislators would be asked to provide funds, he said. Gov. Brad Henry, who thanked drug agents for their work in "difficult and crucial jobs," said he hopes the level of federal funding would remain the same, but would support appropriating state money if the need arises. "It's extremely important that we continue those efforts at the state level and so it's very likely that I would support additional funding for our anti-drug efforts and our war on drugs in Oklahoma," Henry said. "Our law enforcement in Oklahoma has done a great job on the war on drugs, but it's a neverending war, and it does take resources." Oklahoma has led the country in laws that make it difficult to get ingredients to make meth. About 30 states have passed or are working on laws similar to Oklahoma's, and Congress is considering similar legislation. Oklahoma legislators this year passed a law that connects pharmacies statewide so pharmacists may check on computer whether a customer already has bought a maximum amount of pseudoephedrine, a key ingredient in the manufacture of meth. Legislators last year passed a law that restricts tablet sales of pseudoephedrine. It also mandates that specific types of decongestant medicines that contain psuedoephedrine be placed behind drugstore counters. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom