MAKERS FINDING OTHER LOCATIONS TO MAKE DRUGS

A methamphetamine bust is never routine for law enforcement officers.
Because of the combustible mix of chemicals used in making the highly
addictive drug and the possible volatile condition of suspects, this has
become one of the most dangerous operations in law enforcement. This fact
was evident last week when five lawmen and three suspects were sent to the
hospital following a meth raid in Marietta. When the five officers, all
members of a federally backed, multijurisdictional drug unit, began the raid
the suspects began breaking glass containers holding chemicals. The eight
were hospitalized and released after exposure to hydrogen chloride gas.

As bad as that was it could have been much worse. According to Capt. Rick
Woodyard of the Parkersburg Narcotics Task Force, because of the volatility
of the chemicals, an explosion could have occurred. "If a weapon had been
discharged, it could have caused an explosion," he told the newspaper. "an
ignition source would have caused a fire." This is a danger law enforcement
officers face every time they go on a meth raid. Fortunately, the officers
were not seriously injured, although the five must return to the hospital
this week for more medical procedures to make sure there is no permanent
health damage.

A meth lab is a potential time bomb waiting to go off. It not only is a
threat to the officers, but to the neighborhood residents as well. And as
recent events have shown, these labs are not just limited to homes. Busts
have taken place in parking lots inside vehicles that were being used as
labs. And information obtained in last week's Marietta bust led officers to
Neale Island-part of the Ohio River National Wildlife Refuge-where they
found a container full of cookware used to make meth.

This new development is matter of concern for Washington County Sheriff
Larry Mincks. "This is the first time we've encountered anything like this
where people were transporting materials by boat," he told the newspaper.

The problem, obviously, is these islands are used by the general public for
outdoor activities. What would happen if a family taking a boat over for an
afternoon of bird watching or some other nature activity met up with these
people who in the process of "cooking" meth? This is eerily similar to
marijuana growers in many states using national forest land to grow their
crops. In these states, elaborate and dangerous traps have been set around
the growing area in which many unsuspecting people have been seriously
injured. Fortunately, a sweep of Blennerhassett Island found no meth-making
paraphernalia at that busy location.

Apparently, West Virginia lawmakers have made it harder for meth makers to
obtain the materials needed to make the drug, as shown by where labs and
material have been found. However, dealers are still obtaining material and
what happened last week should be of concern to all citizens. It is a
dangerous trend, and one that should be fought with every weapon available.