Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jan 2008
Source: Star-Gazette (NY)
Copyright: 2008sStar-Gazette
Contact:  http://www.stargazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1005
Author: Jeff Murray

METH LABS ON DECLINE, BUT STILL DANGEROUS

At seminar, authorities warn officers about hazards at  crime
scenes.

HORSEHEADS - The prevalence of methamphetamine labs is  on the
decline in our area, but they still represent a  substantial threat,
local law enforcement officials  say.

One of the biggest dangers is to officers who stumble  onto meth labs
during other investigations.

For that reason, the Chemung County Sheriff's Office  sponsored a
methamphetamine investigation seminar  Wednesday at Holiday Inn Express.

More than 70 law enforcement officers were on hand for  the seminar,
representing local police agencies, county  sheriff's departments from
New York and Pennsylvania,  county probation departments, New York
state  environmental conservation police and state park  police.

It takes a specially trained officer to handle a scene  where meth is
being manufactured, and such facilities  are often discovered by
accident, sometimes by officers  who don't have that background, said
Lt. Shawn Holley  of the Chemung County Sheriff's Office.

"Meth and meth labs are something we need more training  and education
on. Once an officer finds a lab, they  have to know what to do and who
to call," Holley said.  "There are a lot of hazards. They aren't as
common they  used to be, but when you find one, it's a lot of  trouble.

"Sometimes a patrol officer could go to a domestic call  and the woman
would say, 'I'm mad at my husband. He's  got a lab in the back.' That
happens," Holley said.

Wednesday's seminar was sponsored through the Operation  RAM (Rid Area
of Meth) program of the Chemung County  Sheriff's Office.

A common misconception is that the biggest danger from  meth labs is
the risk of fire or explosion, said Scott  Adams, clandestine lab
coordinator for the U.S. Drug  Enforcement Administration.

"For first responders, the No. 1 danger is inhalation  of chemical
fumes and vapors. There's a lot of talk  about the potential for fires
or explosions, but that's  rare," said Adams, one of Wednesday's
seminar  presenters.

"We recommend -- don't touch anything; get people out  of the
building, good guys or bad; secure the scene;  and then call people
who deal in (clandestine) labs,"  Adams said. "There are a lot of
resources out there.  It's a matter of people knowing who to call."

Since 1999, Tioga County has led New York state with 39  clandestine
meth labs found, while Chemung County is  fourth with 28, according to
the DEA. There were 73 lab  seizures or incidents reported statewide
in 2003, but  only 16 last year.

That reflects a nationwide trend that has seen a  decrease in
clandestine lab activity since the passage  of a new federal law that
makes it easier to restrict  the sale of ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine, raw  materials needed to manufacture methamphetamine,
Adams  said.

That doesn't mean the problem is going away, he  cautioned.

"We're seeing an increase in the importation of meth,  especially from
Mexico," Adams said. "It's mostly in  the Southwest, but little by
little, we're seeing more  imported meth coming into the Northeast. So
we're  seeing more imported stuff for sure."
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