Pubdate: Mon, 21 Nov 2005 Source: Victoria Times-Colonist (CN BC) Copyright: 2005 Times Colonist Contact: http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/481 Author: Malcolm Curtis DRUG LAB FEARS SPUR BYLAW PUSH Onus Would Be On Landlords To Ensure Properties Aren't Being Used For Clandestine Operations They're called "clan labs" in the lingo of police officers familiar with their potentially lethal effects. Victoria police are bracing for the appearance here of clandestine laboratories where drugs such as crack cocaine and crystal meth are cooked up in basements and bathrooms of homes. The hidden labs -- which elsewhere have been known to blow up buildings and leave behind significant caustic chemical cleanup problems -- have not yet been uncovered in the city. But Coun. Helen Hughes, re-elected Saturday to a sixth term, is pushing a bylaw that will put the onus on property owners -- even if they're absentee landlords -- to monitor buildings regularly to ensure they're not used for drug-making purposes. Property owners would also be responsible for paying for the cleanup of clan labs under the bylaw that has been referred to city hall staff for review. "Clandestine labs are very dangerous and very expensive to clean up," said Hughes, who sees the bylaw as a precautionary measure. "Some cases would require a (hazardous goods removal) crew to clean up the mess at city expense." Const. Brad Fraser, of Victoria police, said those costs could range from $5,000 to $250,000 depending on the size of the operation. Fraser recently made a presentation to council about the growth of clan labs and their risk to public safety. More than 30 drug labs or "dump sites" have been discovered in B.C., he said. About half of them involved crystal meth. Some labs convert marijuana plants to "weed oil" or synthesize crystal meth from over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. Other operations convert crystal meth powder into pill forms, and there are labs for growing marijuana and "magic" mushrooms. Fraser, involved with the Greater Victoria school board's recently established task force on crystal meth, said police targeting of organized drug rings has eliminated large labs in nearby Washington state. But these have been replaced by smaller "Beavis and Butthead" drugmaking operations. In 2002,Washington state authorities uncovered 2,000 such labs, nicknamed for teenaged cartoon characters who have a habit of blowing themselves up. Most of them were crystal meth labs using lithium from batteries and other toxic chemicals. Fraser showed photos of homes in Eastern Canada that have been destroyed by accidents at such labs. The cost of dismantling and disposing of these kinds of facilities would involve bringing in specialized crews from Vancouver. "These are very caustic materials," said Hughes, who believes that people are already mixing ingredients for crystal meth in local bathtubs. The chemicals involved would have to be shipped to Alberta, Quebec or Washington state for disposal. Responding to cleanups of clan labs would involve police and fire officers, paramedics, and a host of outside agencies, including a Health Canada chemist from either Vancouver or Winnipeg. Hughes said the proposed city bylaw is based on regulations introduced in Kelowna. Similar measures have also been adopted in such communities as Chilliwack, Surrey, Port Moody and Vernon, Fraser said. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman