OKLAHOMA METH-LAB BUSTS DROP

Curbs On Key Ingredient Credited; Some Say Drug Makers Will Target Texas

Methamphetamine lab busts in Oklahoma dropped more than 70 percent since a
new state law restricted access to a key ingredient, fueling fears that
producers of the illicit drug could spill across the Red River into Texas.

The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control reported
Monday that the number of raids fell from 100 in March to 29 in May - a
decline authorities attribute to the statute signed into law April 6 that
limits supplies of pseudoephedrine.

"We all expected meth labs to start dropping off, but we thought it would
be a much slower process," said Mark Woodward, the narcotics bureau's
spokesman.

Wichita Falls police now report an increase in Oklahomans seeking to buy
the tablets, a common cold medication.

"We've got such a tremendous problem already, we don't need any more," said
Wichita Falls police Sgt. Cindy Walker.

With successes reported in Oklahoma, at least 11 states, including Texas,
are eyeing similar laws to restrict pseudoephedrine sales.

The Oklahoma law limits to 9 grams the amount of pseudoephedrine a person
may buy in a 30-day period. It also requires that pharmacies secure the
drug behind counters or in locked cases and that purchasers provide photo
IDs and signatures.

Many small-time producers go store to store buying whatever amounts that
merchants will sell. It takes 23,000 tablets of pseudoephedrine to make 2.4
pounds of meth, but producers make only a couple of ounces at a time.

Revoking bail

Those arrested with methamphetamine can now be held without bail under the
new Oklahoma law, pending an assessment of their addiction.

State Rep. John Nance, a Bethany Republican who co-authored the law, said
some Oklahoma sheriffs opposed that provision because of increased jail costs.

But, he said, "I'd much rather see them in custody than out on the street
killing people."

The Oklahoma law can be traced to the deaths in recent years of three state
troopers, all killed by people high on methamphetamine. The last victim,
Trooper Nikky Green, was gunned down the day after Christmas.

The suspect in the trooper's death had bailed out of jail four days earlier
on drug charges.

Mr. Nance said he believes meth-lab raids are down at least in part because
repeat offenders are locked up under the new law.

Texas to follow suit?

In Texas, Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, hopes to push a similar bill through as
an emergency measure in next year's legislative session.

"We need it now," said Sgt. Walker in Wichita Falls, noting that her
department has seen a "dramatic increase in people coming down from
Oklahoma" to buy pseudoephedrine tablets.

Wichita Falls police have asked local pharmacies to voluntarily limit sales
of pseudoephedrine and alert police when suspicious people inquire about
the drug.

It's just a matter of time before the problem spreads, said Dan Easterwood,
assistant commander for the Texas Department of Public Safety's drug squad.

Meth producers, he said, tend to be small-time dealers trying to support
their own addictions - which means the people from Oklahoma are going to be
bringing a slew of other problems.

"It causes anxiety and extreme paranoia," Mr. Easterwood said. "Guns and
meth go hand in hand."

Meth use dropped in the 1980s after federal legislation blocked access to
chemicals and equipment needed for large-scale production. It resurfaced
after a more simple process was developed that allowed producers to extract
the drug from common cold medicine.