DEPUTY: HARD WORK MAKES US No 1

At Least We're Consistent.

With the majority of the year already behind us, state statistics
show that McDowell is again atop North Carolina in the number of meth
lab busts.

"We're still leading, but the number of labs we've had this year is
down tremendously," said Lt. Jackie Turner Jr. of the McDowell County
Sheriff's Office, who heads the local narcotics unit. "We're still
getting some tips (about meth lab locations) but nothing like we were."

Numbers from the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation show that, as of
July 26, McDowell had seen 24 lab busts. The next closest was Harnett
County with 18 and Rutherford and Anson counties with 15 apiece.

"We're working harder on busting labs than a lot of other counties
are," Turner stated. "Some aren't busting them because there are no assets."

With cocaine and marijuana seizures, authorities can generally
confiscate homes, cars and money. With meth busts, explained Turner,
there is usually little, if any, property to seize. And, if there is,
he added, those items are likely contaminated.

There were 61 busts in McDowell in 2005 and 43 dismantled labs in
2004 - putting the county in the lead spot both years.

Officers have credited the county's reduction in meth labs to two
main factors: the number of McDowell's meth cook who are now serving
lengthy federal prison sentences and a new law that went into effect
earlier this year that restricts the sale of certain cold medications
used to make the drug.

However, just because the figures are dropping that doesn't mean
authorities are lowering their guards.

"Meth makers are getting smarter," said Turner. "They're moving their
labs from place to place and hiding their trash. There are still some
out there. We just have to do our homework to find them."

He added that, since meth busts aren't taking as much time as they
once did, his offices are able to concentrate more of their efforts
on the other drug problems in the county, like cocaine and marijuana.

The SBI statistics show that 31 counties in North Carolina have
reported at least one meth lab this year - with the majority being in
the western part of the state. There have been no busts in the
remaining 69 counties.