DISCARDED METH LAB FOUND IN RURAL DITCH

Someone walking along a rural road in north Pitt Meadows Thursday
morning came across a discarded meth lab in a ditch.

A large quantity of chemicals, as well as large water bottles, glass
jars, propane tanks, tupperware boxes, cardboard boxes, lab stools,
funnels, a fan and a hot water tank were found in a ditch on Neaves
Road by 146 Avenue.

RCMP believe the chemicals are from a discarded meth lab.

A hazardous materials team was called to recover and dispose of the
chemicals. Pitt Meadows firefighters also responded.

"Police advise that anyone who feels that they observe chemicals from
a meth lab to stay away, do not touch, do not smell, do not light
cigarettes or use any electronic device around chemicals from a
suspected meth lab as those activities could result in fire or
explosion," RCMP Cpl. Dave Walsh said.

Police helped launch a national Meth Watch program in Maple Ridge and
Pitt Meadows last Saturday, handing out posters, stickers and
pamphlets to about 70 local businesses.

The program is run by the Life or Meth task force - comprised of
representatives from the Meadowridge Rotary Club, local police and
fire departments, the school district addictions services and other
groups. It aims to educate retailers and employees about the
production of crystal methamphetamine.

The program includes a phone number (1-800-387-0200) to report
suspicious purchases of items used to produce meth: over-the-counter
cold and allergy medicines containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine;
acetone; rubbing and isopropyl alcohol; iodine; starter fluid;
methanol; drain cleaner; lithium batteries; rock salt; matchbooks;
lye; paint thinner; aluminum foil; coffee filters; glassware; and
propane tanks.

Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Randy Hawes participated in the Meth Watch
launch. On Monday he made a motion in the Legislature that the
provincial government support efforts to restrict availability of meth
manufacturing precursors, to advocate for more appropriate sentencing
of convicted meth manufacturers and distributors, to increase meth
addiction treatment options and to assist communities in designing
local solutions to problems associated with meth.

Local RCMP Insp. Janice Armstrong attended the legislative meeting, as
did Meadowridge Rotary president Mary Robson and Surrey fire chief Len
Garis, a Pitt Meadows resident and former Pitt Meadows fire chief.
Robson is credited with starting the Meth of Life task force, of which
Garis is a committee member. Insp. Armstrong is also a committee member.

The task force plans to distribute a video directed towards
communities, encouraging them to adopt crystal meth prevention strategies.

"I'm just so happy and proud of the Meadowridge Rotary and the folks
who have served on this task force in my community and worked so hard
to see it come to life for the community," Hawes said.

Seven MLAs spoke in support of his motion.

Hawes said the provincial government, which launched a meth strategy
in August 2004, recognizes the dangers of meth. "It's time the courts
and the federal government wake up to this epidemic and act now and
stop treating drug pushers with kid gloves," he said. "The prospect of
seeing so many youth being sucked into this cycle of addiction is scary."