Pubdate: Sat, 09 Feb 2008 Source: Branson Daily News (MO) Copyright: 2008 The Branson Daily News Contact: http://www.bransondailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4031 Author: Donna Clevenger Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) TANEY COUNTY METH LAB SEIZURES LOWER IN 2007 TANEY COUNTY -- Statistics for the incidence of methamphetamine investigations in Taney County compare favorably to other counties in Southwest Missouri. Statistics for the state are less encouraging, with Missouri leading the nation with 1,285 in clandestine meth lab incidents. Missouri totals remained virtually the same as 2006 (1,284). The first half of 2007 showed a continued downward trend, but the second half of the year showed a rise in seizures. "This trend demonstrates that smurfing (going from pharmacy to pharmacy to purchase pseudoephedrine) is occurring as the methamphetamine cooks become comfortable with the pseudoephedrine law," reads the news release from Capt. Luke Vislay, director of the Division of Drug and Crime Control report. The DDCC was established in 1983, and operates throughout the state. The field offices are located at each troop headquarters of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Missouri shares the top five slot with Indiana, number two with 620 incidents; Tennessee, third with 559; Illinois, fourth with 360; and Arkansas, fifth with 309 incidents of seizures. Gov. Matt Blunt signed legislation Feb. 1, saving the Missouri Sheriff's Methamphetamine Relief Teams (MoSMART) that were cut from federal funding this year. The legislation provides more than $1.8 million in supplemental funding to help in the state's fight against meth after Congress eliminated federal support. "The manufacture and use of meth is a scourge on our state and nation, and we must do everything in our power to fight this deadly drug," Gov. Blunt said. "Working together with Missouri law enforcement, we have saved the task forces with this state funding to ensure we have the resources needed to protect Missouri families from this terrible drug." Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell serves on the board for Combined Ozarks Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Team. The county's prosecuting attorney, Jeff Merrell, working with the circuit court through the Drug Court program continues to impact the incidence of meth lab seizures as evidenced by a reduction from five in 2006 to one. Gov. Blunt attributes the Missouri law passed in June of 2005, limiting access to the materials used to make meth, with the reduction of the negative impact of meth in Missouri. The law restricts the sale of products containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine and relocates them behind pharmacy counters. Consumers are also now required to show photo identification before purchasing products containing the chemicals and are limited to how much of the products they can purchase each month. Under the legislation, pharmacies are required to maintain purchase logs and make them available for inspection to law enforcement officers. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom