Series: Meth - A Rising Blight (Part 2C)

The Ingredients

BATTLE GOES TO THE SOURCE

Additive, Locks Help Deter Ammonia Theft

With thousands of acres of farmland, Kentucky and Indiana have been fertile
ground for meth cooks to steal anhydrous ammonia, a liquid fertilizer used
to make the stimulant.

In Kentucky a total of 85 people were arrested in 2002 and 2003 for
anhydrous ammonia thefts, and agriculture experts say vandalism and damage
to the tanks can cost farmers thousands of dollars.

In Indiana, costs associated with anhydrous ammonia theft exceed $5 million
a year, according to a state task force.

The Indiana Methamphetamine Abuse Task Force recommended in October
possible solutions, including examining whether adding chemicals to the
ammonia could make it more difficult or even impossible for meth makers to use.

Another recommendation calls for increased security in the form of locks on
ammonia tank valves, fencing around tanks and more surveillance by law
enforcement.

One chemical is billed as a way to catch ammonia thieves pink-handed.

GloTell, an ammonia additive that doesn't affect the fertilizer, stains
anything it touches.

If a meth cook tries to fill a propane tank with ammonia, the chemical
stains hands, faces and clothes a bubble-gum pink. Farmers who use the
product wear protective gear.

The pink stain is visible for 72 hours and can be seen under an ultraviolet
light for 48 hours more, said Scott Spelman, director of sales for GloTell.

Royster-Clark Inc., distributor of crop-protection products and fertilizer,
is the additive's only seller.

The dye also stains the finished meth, making it more runny and less
potent, police and Spelman said.

GloTell, which has been on the market for four months, is giving
authorities hope that it can curb meth labs.

"It won't eliminate the problems, but we'll be able to deter it," said Maj.
Mike Sapp of the Kentucky State Police.

Guarding or enclosing the tanks is difficult because they often are in
rural areas on farms and in tank depots. In the spring, pastures are dotted
with small tanks, which are easy targets for meth cooks.

"At any given time, you'll have millions of gallons spread on farmers'
fields," said Cheyenne Albro of the Pennyrile drug task force in Western
Kentucky.

Former meth cook Russell Moore said cooks know that.

"One night you go to one tank, and the next night you go to another," Moore
said.

GloTell costs a farmer roughly $1 an acre more to use.

But the cost is an investment because ammonia theft also can leave farmers
with broken fences and damaged tanks.

As law enforcement, farmers and fertilizer retailers place their hope in
GloTell, former meth cook Jeff Walker, who funded his cocaine habit by
making meth, says it likely will help only in the short-term.

"They're not going to be able to stop it," Walker said. "People want the high."

Another chemical promises to go further than GloTell.

New York state lawmakers in September authorized a study of ferrocene to
confirm whether the chemical alters anhydrous ammonia so it cannot be used
to make meth.

New York officials cited a recent Johns Hopkins University study funded by
the U.S. Navy that uncovered the potential usefulness of ferrocene in short
circuiting the chemical reactions of meth production.

But meth can be made without anhydrous ammonia. Another method that uses
red phosphorus from matchsticks may be harder to fight.