METH SCOURGE

Cops fear drug labs could be cooking up trouble on your
street

Years ago in California, Calgary drug cop Pat Tetley saw the death and
destruction wrought by methamphetamine "speed" factories blowing up.

He learned first-hand of the agonizing deaths among the amateur
methamphetamine chemists whose bodies were ravaged by the toxic chemicals.

And in the back of his mind, he had the worrying knowledge that what
gripped California's drug scene then usually reached Calgary in the
next 10 years.

This week, Tetley's worst fears were realized when he was sent into a
quiet residential Calgary Riverbend home nestled in an
all-unsuspecting residential neighbourhood.

Inside were the same volatile, explosive chemicals and the same
corrosive toxic fumes he'd experienced in California.

Methamphetamine laboratories had reached Calgary -- and he only began
dismantling this one after donning full protective clothing, a
breathing ventilator, rubber gloves and boots duct-taped shut for safety.

"We know from when we studied this down in California, that many, many
people died from the reactions of the chemicals, which create a
poisonous gas," he said.

"They also die from the explosions resulting from the cooking
process."

This was Calgary's first lab dismantled this year, but the drug unit
knows there will definitely be more.

"Last year, Vancouver police took out 21 methamphetamine labs, and
today in California, methamphetamine has taken over from rock cocaine
as the number one drug of choice," he said.

The burgeoning "rave" party climate in Calgary and the massive
increase in "speed" on the street gives the drug unit its conviction
more labs are operating in the city and more will spring up.

"Methamphetamine is exploding in the city way more than we've seen
before," he said.

"Methamphetamine is commonly used now in these rave parties and we've
had a huge influx of ecstasy and methamphetamine, to a point where we
haven't seen it like this in years and years," said Tetley.

Organized crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs lurking in the background
add sinister overtones to the problem.

"Methamphetamine labs are synonymous with organized crime," said
Tetley.

"Organized crime finds a market for these drugs and obviously with the
amount of new night-time situations going on, this is a very desirable
drug along with ecstasy."

The busted Riverbend lab was capable of cooking up an ounce of
methamphetamine every six hours -- which would fetch the trafficker at
least $1,600 an ounce on the street.

Tetley believes few Calgarians are aware of the potentially deadly
danger spreading through the city.

Innocent Calgarians will have no idea a methamphetamine lab could be
lurking in their neighbourhood.

"These labs are clandestine and those running them rely on complete
secrecy," said Tetley.

It took weeks of work for cops to uncover and bust this
one.

Cops believe even people cooking the explosive brew and the junkie
users who buy it don't know they're dicing with death.

The amateur chemist in the lab seldom takes the precautions cops
take.

"Inside this lab, when the 'cook' was actually in process, the amount
of toxicity would be extreme," said Tetley.

"It would absolutely saturate your clothing, your hair, your skin and
it can be absorbed.

"The person in this Riverbend house didn't take precautions and who
knows what the end result may be for him."

And drug-abusers are at huge risk when methamphetamines and ecstasy
are mixed into a deadly brew.

"When ecstasy is sold, methamphetamine will be used as an adulterant
for an extra bang-for-the-buck," said Tetley.

"It's dangerous and in large quantities it can be fatal."