METH NOT PROBLEM IN ST. LANDRY PARISH

Officials Warn Of Continued Spread Of Deadly Drug

Although phenomenon mostly in the Midwest and along the Pacific West
Coast, crystal meth also is a growing problem in the South, where
home-made labs are springing up in rural communities everywhere.

So far, however, local officials say the drug has not taken root much
in South Louisiana but state police say it's prevalence in North
Louisiana means it could be here before too long.

"Meth is being seen more so in North Louisiana. This is where we are
having more problems, but it is trickling down south," said state
police Narcotics Sgt. Harold Jean Batiste. "Two weeks ago, we had a
traffic stop of crystal meth going from Texas to Mississippi, then
Florida. Recently, we haven't had any events, not saying it's not
happening, but just that we haven't come across it yet. Normally, we
get tips from cooperating individuals and through investigating other
drug crimes, or we find out that someone is setting up a lab."

St. Landry Parish's U.S. Route 190 corridor has been a popular
east-west drug trafficking route for years. It's no different with
crystal meth, according to Opelousas Police Chief Larry Caillier, who
said the drug really hasn't hit the city yet.

"Within the city limits, we had one incident with crystal meth being
left in one of the hotels in the city about five months ago," he
said. "However, we have not yet experienced crystal meth traffic, but
we are braced for it. Most of the crystal meth is between Krotz
Springs and Port Barre on Hwy. 190. What they're doing is they're
coming in from Shreveport and taking the back way down 190 and
trafficking the drug."

Krotz Springs Police Chief Susie Lacassine said while it may come
through the town, it really hasn't become a regular drug there.

"We don't see a whole lot of that here," she said. "I don't remember
the last time we made a bust with crystal meth,"

There have been only a few high-profile meth busts in St. Landry
Parish in recent years. Mostly, though, the drug is found during
routine traffic stops, said Laura Balthazar, chief deputy of the
sheriff's office

"It hasn't been a problem but our narcotics agents have been seizing
crystal meth mostly on routine traffic stops when people are passing
through St. Landry Parish," she said.

Still, she said she's ready for what almost all narcotics officials
say is inevitable.

"This drug is taking the place of crack cocaine," she said.

St. Landry Parish had one incident March 7 during which a suspect
from the New Iberia area was attempting to steal a dump truck valued
at more than $40,000. Brandon Dugan from New Iberia was spotted by
representatives from the Highway Department, who contacted the
sheriff's office.

The suspect was on La. 104 sitting inside the truck and allegedly was
attempting to take it. He was very disorientated and appeared to be
under the influence of narcotics, according to the sheriff's office.
When deputies arrived, the suspect fled.

"When he fled, they searched a white Pontiac and recovered a clear
plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance, which was definitely
crystal meth, and according to Acadiana Crime Lab, it was 96 grams of
crystal meth," Balthazar said. "He's in the Harrison County Jail in
Biloxi. As soon as they're through with him, we're going to pick him up."

It wasn't the first time the parish had an incident with crystal
meth. A big meth lab was discovered in the Sunset area in 1992. The
man involved, Edgar Huff, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for
conspiracy to manufacture crystal meth.

What really makes crystal meth so easy to gain access to is the fact
that many people who sell or use the drug can make crystal meth in their homes.

"When they are processing the meth, it's a process of different
chemicals," Batiste said. "You can walk through your local store and
buy the ephedrine, red dye, cold tablets and use anhydrous ammonia
for the cooking process.

"The individuals who make meth set up labs at their houses or barns
and sheds. Sometimes, not directly in their neighborhood, but in
their barn or so. We have guys that are trained to go in and process
the different methamphetamine labs."

It's the easy access that is one thing that makes the drug so
popular. In North Louisiana, they are even seeing slicker versions of
meth, called ice, coming from Texas.

"We're so close to the Texas border, it's so easy for them to go to
Texas and do business with people representing the Mexican Cartel
than even making it in their own labs," Batiste said. "The majority
of the meth that we have seen this year has come from Dallas and
Houston and down in Mexico, where they have the big super labs, where
they are pounding out hundreds of meth at a time, and the drug is
really cheap."

In many parts of the state, meth is becoming almost as popular as crack.

"Our No. 1 drug is crack cocaine and No. 2 is meth and marijuana,"
said Capt. Mark Holley of Shreveport Police Department. "(Meth has)
made a very strong comeback and it's getting a little worse every year."