OWENS VOWS WAR ON METH LABS

Measures Would Toughen Laws

Thursday, December 20, 2001 - Gov. Bill Owens said Wednesday it's time to
crack down on the methamphetamine labs that are popping up all over
Colorado, endangering the lives of innocent people with the highly
dangerous chemicals used to make the drug.

This year alone, 450 meth labs will be put out of business, Owens said.
That's a huge spike from 1998, when just 31 were discovered and shut down.

At a news conference attended by prosecutors and law officers from around
the state, Owens announced two measures for the coming legislative session
that will toughen state laws and make it easier to stop the manufacture of
methamphetamine.

One would make it a crime to possess big supplies of household medicines
like Sudafed if it can be proved that there was an intent to produce the
drug. A second measure would make it a crime to possess equipment like
beakers and supplies like lithium metal found in batteries. Again, intent
would have to be proved. Owens said he has budgeted $1 million for the
legislation.

"The production of methamphetamine has become a law-enforcement crisis in
Colorado," Owens said. "I am concerned about the public safety of our
state's citizens in the event that a meth lab explodes or waste from one of
these labs gets dumped in one of our neighborhoods."

Moreover, the leftovers from the production of the drug constitute
hazardous materials that are highly polluting to soil and water, he said.

Meth lab incidents

Last month, an Adams County apartment caught fire when the vapors from a
meth lab ignited. In October, an apartment complex in Castle Rock was
evacuated after a meth lab was discovered.

Thornton police Lt. Lori Moriarty, a member of the North Metro Drug
Enforcement Task Force, said that Colorado has become attractive to
methamphetamine manufacturers because neighboring states have passed
stiffer laws.

"Colorado cannot be a desirable place to come and manufacture
methamphetamine," Moriarty said. "I applaud the governor for taking this
stand" and not waiting until the number of labs reaches into the thousands,
like in California and Washington state. In each of those states, there are
more than 2,000 labs, she said.

The ease with which methamphetamine can be made using household products,
such as over-the-counter cold medicines and phosphorus on the tips of
matches, is the other reason for the proliferation of labs.

Methamphetamine doesn't have to be imported from other states or countries,
Owens said. "We're dealing with a drug that can be manufactured . . .
within the four walls of a typical suburban home."

Otero County Sheriff John Eberly said methamphetamine is not a problem
exclusive to urban areas. In the past two years, his officers have shut
down 37 labs in southeastern Colorado and are in the process of
investigating three suspected labs.

"This is a really bad drug," Eberly said. "They're cooking this stuff right
in the home with little children right in the home that can play with some
of this stuff."