RESEARCH IN THE VALLEY SHIFTS TO METH

The Fraser Valley Is Getting Ready to Tackle the Community Challenge
of Crystal Meth With a Little Hard Science.

The City of Chilliwack is teaming up with University College of the
Fraser Valley researchers to determine what tools in the global fight
against meth have been most successful.

"I think the extent of the (meth lab) problem in B.C. is probably
much more significant than it has ever been," UCFV RCMP research
chair Darryl Plecas said. "There's even some concern about the
likelihood that we'll see more of them."

Plecas captured headlines across Canada in 2002 as lead researcher
for a cutting-edge study showing grow-ops were popping up more in
B.C.'s rural areas and moving away from larger city centres.

The extent of marijuana grow-ops, as well as the enforcement and
prevention models have become well-known, he argued, but the same
cannot be said about the murky underworld of meth labs, which are
often much harder to detect.

As municipalities tighten up laws to prevent grow-ops from being set
up, some of those criminals may switch into meth production.

"All one needs to do is take a stroll to the Downtown Eastside to
understand why no penalty is serious enough for these people. Those
engaged in the production of meth in super labs, if it were me, I
would be giving them life imprisonment for causing so much hurt and
so much harm, to so many people for so long."

He estimates victims are into the "tens of thousands."

"What's really frightening about meth labs -- aside from the hazards
and risk of explosion, fire and toxic chemicals -- is the nature of
the individuals who tend to be involved."