Pubdate: Fri, 25 Feb 2005
Source: Hickory Daily Record (NC)
Copyright: 2005 Hickory Daily Record
Contact:  http://www.hickoryrecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1109
Author: Kim Gilliland
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

MCHENRY TACKLES METH LABS

Local Law Enforcement Pleads For Help From 10th District Representative

LENOIR - In 2000, only 14 methamphetamine labs were discovered in
North Carolina. Four years later, that number skyrocketed to 320.

The sheer numbers are raising eyebrows among local law enforcement.
They also have the attention of U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C.

On Thursday, representatives from police agencies in the 10 counties
comprising the 10th Congressional District met with McHenry in Lenoir
to seek answers.

"What's most alarming is where the labs pop up," said Caldwell County
Sheriff Gary Clark. "There is a direct correlation between the drug
trade and violent crimes and property crimes. We have three narcotics
officers trying to combat this problem in a county of 77,000 people.
It's too much, too many."

Manpower is definitely a key issue, said Maj. Coy Reid of the Catawba
County Sheriff's Office. "We're still working marijuana, crack and
cocaine cases. Our mountain counties are running them (meth dealers)
down to our county. We don't know how to run them back."

Another growing concern is the amount of methamphetamine being brought
into western North Carolina. According to McHenry, 80 percent of the
methamphetamine trade comes from Mexico and California, where large
quantities of meth is produced in superlabs.

All agreed more federal money was needed to fight the meth
problem.

McHenry vows to help. Recently selected as vice chairman of the
Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Drug Policy,
McHenry said three anti-meth bills are in Congress.

McHenry wants to know which legislative approach will be most helpful
to local, state and federal law enforcement.

"This is a national problem, and we're here to find local solutions,"
he said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin