DEA'S MUSEUM EXHIBIT SHOWS DANGERS OF DRUGS

After visiting the Museum of Science and Industry's famous coal mine
and submarine, patrons might want to check out its new crack den and meth lab.

The Hyde Park museum opens a new exhibit today that highlights the
perils of drug abuse and the drug trade, including life-size
re-creations of drug lairs and labs.

"Target America: Opening Eyes to the Damage Drugs Cause" is a
traveling exhibit created by the Drug Enforcement Administration
Museum. It gives historical and modern-day look at drugs such as
opium, cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine.

The exhibit, which comes with a warning about bringing young
children, includes photos of cops and federal agents killed in the
drug war, as well as pictures of teens, adults and even rock stars
felled by drug abuse.

'Facts aren't on their side'

"Think of this exhibit as one-stop shock therapy," said DEA
Administrator Karen P. Tandy, in town to open the exhibit. "The
message of this exhibit is: If you think you're not affected or
endangered by drugs, think again."

The exhibit has already been shown in several cities, most recently
Detroit. It has drawn criticism from some groups that say it's more
DEA publicity than education and that it ignores the argument that
criminalizing drugs creates the lucrative, underground trade that
ends up financing terrorism.

Tandy discounted the criticism. "I think it's hard for these groups
because the facts aren't on their side. That's all they can say."

The exhibit, in a two-level temporary hall on the west side of the
museum, has a special section dedicated to drugs in Chicago over the
years. That section will eventually wind up on display at Navy Pier.

The exhibit also devotes a great deal of space to the foreign drug
trade and ties to terror. There's a seized Taliban flag, a giant
photo of Osama bin Laden, a re-created Afghan heroin processing lab
and a South American cocaine lab complete with mosquito netting and
assault rifles.

Mayor seems jarred

The crack den -- labeled a "tenement apartment" -- is a small room
strewn with empty crack vials and cigarette butts. There's also a
bassinet, a dirty diaper, a shotgun and piped-in sounds of sirens and
barking dogs.

As Mayor Daley toured the exhibit Thursday, he seemed jarred,
including by the meth lab. It's in a simulated hotel room, and it
shows how an unsuspecting hotel guest can be just inches away from an
explosive meth lab.

Chicago Police Supt. Phil Cline, who also took a tour, called it "a
powerful exhibit that will enlighten and fascinate so many people."

It will remain at the museum through Dec. 3. There is no extra fee to see it.

[Sidebar]

No ordinary SUV -- it's on lookout for dealers

As you look at one part of the new drug exhibit, it will also be
looking at you.

At the Museum of Science and Industry, the Drug Enforcement
Administration is displaying a special tricked-out Toyota Scion
designed to be left on street corners to snoop on drug dealers.

The boxy SUV has multiple hidden cameras, including a 360-degree lens
secretly disguised as the rear stereo amplifier. It also has several
microphones hidden in its body that, with a court order, can
eavesdrop on bad guys.

The display also includes a hidden camera that museum-goers can
operate from across the building.

Timothy J. Ogden, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA's
Chicago office, said police and federal agents in Chicago don't use a
Scion -- but they use other cars with the same technology.

"We made sure none of our local law enforcement partners have that
particular type of model in service," Ogden said.

Drug dealers know authorities have secret surveillance methods, he
said, so showing them off was decided to be OK.

"Are the gang-bangers going to come here and look at our display?
Probably not," he said. "And if we can save some lives and turn some
kids to walk the straight and narrow, it's a risk we can live with."