SAMPSON FOURTH IN METH LABS FOUND

During 2005, agents with the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation
responded to 328 clandestine methamphetamine labs in the state, and,
through increased public awareness and more stringent laws regulating
the sale of a key ingredient in the drug's production, two years later
that statewide number has been cut in half.

However, while the number of meth labs SBI authorities have responded
to has dipped significantly overall in the last year, including in
Sampson, this county and those surrounding it have remained a hot bed
for such clandestine drug activity.

Authorities in both Duplin and Sampson counties each discovered and
dismantled yet another meth lab in recent weeks, with the one in
Sampson found just last week.

It was the 10th meth lab this year, SBI statistics indicate. A SBI map
charting clandestine lab responses revealed that Sampson had 9 as of
Dec. 18, the same day another one was found at a home in the Clinton
area.

Statistics compiled by the SBI through Dec. 18, show that Anson County
has by far the most meth lab responses with 28 in 2007. Behind Anson
are Sampson County neighbors Harnett and Johnston with 13 and 11,
respectively.

Sampson had its 10th meth lab discovery of the year last week, ranking
it fourth among the state's 100 counties in the number of labs found,
according to SBI statistics. Duplin is right behind Sampson, joining
Buncombe and Davidson, all of which have 9 each, the SBI reports.

Since a state law took effect in January 2006 moving cold and allergy
pills containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine behind pharmacy
counters, the SBI has seen a considerable drop in the number of labs
the last two years. Upon enacting the legislation, local law
enforcement saw the number of 328 meth labs in 2005 drop to 197 in
2006. There were just over 150 (as of Dec. 18) in 2007.

Despite a trend starting at the beginning of 2006 showing a
significant decline in the number of total meth labs dismantled across
the state, the number of meth labs in Sampson County increased over
the amount in 2005, from 11 in 2005 to 14 in 2006. Surrounding
counties Duplin and Wayne had three each in 2006, while Johnston
County had eight last year.

Local authorities have noted that the slight rise in the number of
labs found in Sampson did not necessarily mean that there are more of
the labs, but that residents may be getting more knowledgeable in
identifying them.

Thornton said at that time that he believed many users and
manufacturers of meth attempted to hide out and set up operations in
Sampson County because of the county's distinct rural characteristics,
coupled with its large land mass. But, after a heavy crackdown against
such activity in 2006, many users and manufacturers escaped to
surrounding counties, Thornton said.

And that belief is definitely reflected in comparisons of SBI maps
tracking meth activity and labs from 2006 to 2007. While Sampson's
number dips from 14 to 10, and Harnett's decreases from 23 to 13, the
numbers of its neighbors to the east have each increased. Duplin's
number of meth responses has tripled to 9, Wayne's has doubled to 6
and Johnston has seen its number of labs go up from 8 to 11.

Some, including Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton and Duplin
County Sheriff Blake Wallace, have attributed increased public
awareness of meth and tips to the number of labs able to be
identified, but say that meth users and manufacturers still skirt the
law regarding pseudoephedrine sales locally.

"I think it's helped," said Wallace, quickly noting, however, that
"folks have figured out ways to acquire that and work around the laws.
We haven't seen a reduction. Our numbers are up considerably."

He and Thornton agree that pressure by local law enforcement will
often result in meth manufacturers and offenders traveling to
neighboring counties to set up operations there.

"They're just getting better in how they're doing their operations,"
noted Thornton.

The sheriff said that such operations in Sampson have been found in
abandoned houses and barns, as well as in open fields, far from the
homes and out buildings where the majority of them used to be discovered.

Thornton also commented on the migration over county lines being seen
by local authorities, where offenders will escape only to become the
problem of bordering law enforcement agencies.

"They have set up shop in other counties, such as Wayne and Duplin,"
the sheriff said. "The heat's in the kitchen."