N.Y. SEES A DROP IN METH LABS

Only Five Labs Found As Of March, Compared With 53 Busted Last Year

As Bradford County continues to battle the meth epidemic, the Southern Tier
is witnessing a reprieve from the drug that threatens to plague the nation.

New York State Police Lt. Patrick Garey said the numbers of labs discovered
is on the decline in the state.:

2000 - eight labs.

2001 - 19 labs.

2002 - 45 labs.

2003 - 73 labs.

2004 - 53 labs.

As of March, only five meth lab discoveries were reported in New York, he said.

Bradford County alone has had 30 meth labs busted this year as of early
August, said Thomas Marino, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of
Pennsylvania.

Garey isn't sure why the numbers are on decline in New York while
neighboring Pennsylvania continues to struggle. He has some theories though.

"I think what has happened is that whole area of Pennsylvania is just a
more rural, widespread area with probably a less daily or less concentrated
law enforcement," he said.

"In general, it is easier for (meth makers) to hide down there, which makes
it easier for them to produce the drug and makes it harder to find them."

Garey is relieved to see the numbers on the decline.

"I think numbers wise, that right there showed there is definitely some
impact that we've made," he said.

"Part of that is definitely that they (meth makers) have gotten a little
better at hiding. We've (also) taken out some of the biggest cooks. That
quieted it down a little bit. And, the meth makers have modified the way
they operate."

By learning how neighbors on the West Coast, where meth began more than 30
years ago, have dealt with the meth battle, New York has worked
aggressively to combat the drug and pass stronger laws to fight it, Garey said.

"It's hard to (characterize the meth problem). What we did in New York when
we saw the problem in late 1999, 2000, as a state we jumped on it so
aggressively and got the word out through the media and the law enforcement
agencies," he said. "Almost everybody is aware of the meth problem."

That awareness and public education has helped Elmira, Police Chief W.
Scott Drake III said.

"I do think the education going on helped. (Drug users) know it's bad. They
look at it as bad stuff," Drake said. "But, I know in Bradford County, just
across the border, they have a tremendous problem."

Cooperation from local stores to limit the sale of Sudafed and other
medicines containing psuedoephedrine (a key meth component) also has helped
to curb the meth production in the area, Drake said.

The problem hasn't disappeared, he is quick to state, and officers continue
to receive specialized meth training to fight the drug.

Three Elmira police officers just returned from Drug Enforcement
Administration training in Quantico, Va. There, they learned more about
investigating and safely entering the toxic meth lab sites.

"As of right now, we are finding that most of our meth is coming out of
Pennsylvania," Drake said.

"I can't say (meth use is) not going on, but people aren't talking about it
as much. It all peaked around when the (two Bradford County) deputies were
killed (March 31, 2004). People that may get involved with (meth) are
saying, 'That's too dangerous for me.' "