LAB SEIZURES INDICATE STATE METH TREND CONTINUES

Missouri might keep the nation's methamphetamine crown for
another year. The state has led the nation since 2001 in the number of
methamphetamine lab seizures. The Missouri State Highway Patrol
released figures yesterday announcing law enforcement seized 1,460
meth labs in the first six months of 2004.

In the same period last year, the patrol recorded 1,655 meth lab
seizures across the state, but officials anticipate exceeding 2003's
year-end total of 2,860 labs, patrol Sgt. Sid Conklin said.

That prediction was made by the El Paso Intelligence Center, or EPIC,
a government agency staffed by the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, the U.S. Customs Service and the Drug Enforcement
Administration. EPIC takes the total number of labs seized at six
months and doubles it to arrive at a year-end prediction, Conklin said.

Meth lab seizures are classified into three categories: operational or
non-operational labs, chemical-glassware-equipment seizures and lab
dump sites.

With 15 lab seizures this year, Boone County has nearly met its 2003
total of 18 labs, Conklin said. The county figure includes Columbia.

Sheriff's Capt. Kevin Merritt attributed the increase in seizures to
repeat offenders, more reports by citizens of lab sites and an
increased number of deputies on county roads. The increased staffing
began last year after the sheriff's department started receiving
revenue from a county sales tax.

Deputies spend more time in their districts, enabling them to better
spot suspicious people and vehicles and find more lab debris, Merritt
said.

"When you take all of those things and add them together, it really
helps us in trying to shut these things down," he said.

Because the drug's hold on users is so strong, many suspects post bond
after an arrest and immediately return to making or using the drug.

"Our problem in Missouri is addictive driven, not profit driven,"
patrol Capt. Ron Replogle said.

Officers searched one Columbia home on West Broadway four times in six
months, resulting in meth-related charges for occupants Karen K. Wall,
39, and Timothy E. Conrad, 35. Their cases are ongoing.

These "small mom-and-pop" type of operations are what officers see
most often, Replogle said. Many times, children are endangered by a
parent's drug use through neglect or exposure to meth's dangerous
ingredients and the volatile cooking process.

That's the newest aspect to the meth awareness training officers
receive, Replogle said. They are not only taught to look for lab sites
and how to deal with the dangerous materials, but also how to spot
signs of child abuse associated with the drug.

Missouri continues to train officers to ensure their safety during
response, investigation and disposal of meth labs. The training is
co-sponsored by the patrol and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Last week, the first of seven state-organized "meth summits" was held
in Kirksville for officers, social service workers and reporters,
Replogle said.

The last summit is scheduled Dec. 9 at the Ike Skelton Training Center
in Jefferson City.