BRADLEY COUNTY AT TOP FOR METH LAB SEIZURES

Bradley County holds the top spot for methamphetamine lab seizures in
Tennessee through 10 months of 2004, a statistic Bradley County Sheriff Dan
Gilley attributes to an aggressive drug enforcement program.

The latest report from the Southeast Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force
shows 112 lab seizures in the county by the Drug Enforcement Units of the
Bradley County Sheriff's Office and the Cleveland Police Department, and
the 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force.

"It is unrealistic to think that Bradley County has a larger meth problem
than cities or counties of equal size or three to four times our size. We
have our drug enforcement people to thank for a unified effort to rid the
county of this addictive substance," said Gilley.

The report indicates 58 labs in Hamilton County, 11 in Knox, four in
Davidson and 32 in Shelby (Memphis) during the same time frame. Bradley,
McMinn, Monroe and Polk, comprising the 10th Judicial District, have
one-fifth of the lab seizures in the state.

"Two key factors for our success are the level of cooperation between the
three agencies we have involved in the eradication of labs, and a unified
message that we come down hard on meth producers," Gilley added.

McMinn County, with 100 lab seizures, claims second place.

Some counties and cities have adopted aggressive enforcement programs.

Sheriff Gilley said, "Many people use Blount County for comparison because
of its population and size similarities. But the report shows three labs
this year and only seven since 1999."

Through aggressive, persistent investigation, Gilley said they hope the
message gets through that "Bradley County and the other counties of the
10th Judicial District are tough places to produce methamphetamine."

The Governor's Task Force on Methamphetamine Abuse, in its final report,
concluded, "Tennessee is experiencing a noticeable increase in the
activities of structured methamphetamine trafficking groups, illegally
transporting large quantities of the drug into the country. According to
the Drug Enforcement Administration, Mexican criminal organizations
controlling much of the methamphetamine distribution in the southeast are
found in and around Dalton, Ga."

Meth evolved from a rural drug into urban and suburban neighborhoods, the
report says, adding users and increasing the need for producers.

Meth use has increased steadily each year since making an initial
appearance in the late 1990s when only three labs were found in Bradley
County. But that same year, 1999, there were 23 shut down in Grundy County
and 40 in nearby Marion County, two areas where meth production in
clandestine labs can be traced in southeast Tennessee.

By 2000, the number of Bradley County labs tripled to nine. The following
year it rose to 42, then 84 in 2002, but then declined to 64 in 2003. "At
the pace we're on, there's a good chance we'll double that number by the
end of the year," Gilley said.

Statewide in 2004, more than 1,100 labs have been found in homes, cars,
boats, garages, and even under the awning of a church.

Since formation of SETMTF in 1999, Bradley County holds second place with
314 labs, behind Marion County with 400, but ahead of Hamilton County where
253 labs have been seized.

The sheriff pointed out Marion County has seen a leveling off of labs over
the last three years.

"What this reflects is a strong effort by the southeast district task force
after they were identified as one of the counties that was heavily
involved," Gilley said.

"We will continue working with (Cleveland Police) Chief Wes Snyder and
District Attorney Jerry Estes to combine resources to get these people out
of our neighborhoods and behind bars where they belong."

State lawmakers will likely take up a review of laws on both the
manufacture and use of methamphetamine when they convene at the state
Capitol in January.

The Governor's Task Force concluded its report with seven recommendations:

- - Increase funding for methamphetamine treatment with an eye toward
long-term initiatives.

- - Educate communities about the dangers of methamphetamine abuse.

- - Create new penalties and strengthen existing penalties for
methamphetamine-related crimes.

- - Commit resources to help children harmed by methamphetamine manufacturing
and abuse.

- - Limit the availability of precursor materials used to illegally
manufacture methamphetamine.

- - Address contamination caused by clandestine methamphetamine laboratories.

- - Improve coordination between federal, state and local stakeholders.

Research shows a 90 percent recidivism rate among methamphetamine users.
Gilley concluded, "We take enforcement very seriously, we follow up on
information, use our resources and eliminate labs as they become known to us."