COMBATING METH LABS IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT

As United States Attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, I am
writing to invite all interested citizens, business leaders, retail
merchants and public officials to join us on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the F&M
Trolley Barn in Salisbury as Rowan County makes history by implementing the
first Retail Methamphetamine Watch Program in the state of North Carolina.

The production and use of the illegal drug methamphetamine is
increasing in alarming numbers in North Carolina and presents a
growing danger to all. The core ingredient in "meth" is ephedrine or
pseudoeph-edrine, and decongestants which are commonly found in
over-the-counter cold medicines. The Rowan County Methamphetamine
Watch Program is designed to limit the accessibility of products
containing these precursors by training and educating retail employees
to identify and report suspicious transactions. In addition,
participating retailers will be given Meth Watch Program materials to
display in their stores and encouraged to report suspicious
transactions to local law enforcement.

Meth is an illegal, highly addictive drug produced in clandestine
laboratories using products that are easily obtained in retail,
convenience and grocery stores. Meth causes paranoia and violence, and
its consequences are far more deadly than other potent drugs. Using
meth ruins bodies and brains. Manufacturing meth destroys families and
communities. The impact of meth includes toxic explosions,
environmental damage, addiction, child abuse and neglect, theft and
death.

The production of meth in North Carolina has increased alarmingly and
now has the potential to overwhelm law enforcement, social services,
public health facilities and courtrooms. In 1999, North Carolina
busted nine meth labs. In 2003, law enforcement broke-up 177 labs. Law
enforcement has broken up more than 120 clandestine meth labs in the
first four months of the year. Equally disturbing is the fact that
these labs put children and unsuspecting neighbors at risk by exposing
them to the dangers of crime, toxic chemicals, explosions and fire.
Making the drug is easy, and that is why law enforcement needs your
help. Meth labs can be set up anywhere by "cookers" using ordinary
household chemicals and over-the-counter cold medicines. Meth labs
have been found in North Carolina in homes, apartments, motel rooms,
inside vehicles and in close proximity to schools and youth
organizations.

Educated and informed citizens, retailers and business owners are our
first line of defense in shutting down meth manufacturing in Rowan
County. We need the eyes and ears of everyone in this county to alert
law enforcement to the possibility of dangerous meth production.

The United States Attorneys Office of the Middle District of North
Carolina is proud to join with the Rowan County Sheriff's Department,
the Salisbury Police Department, Rowan Business Alliance, the State
Bureau of Investigation and Rowan County District Attorney Bill
Kenerly in kicking off the Rowan County Retail Meth Watch Program on
Tuesday at the Trolley Barn. Also joining us will be Darin South, a
volunteer firefighter from Watauga County who will share his
first-hand experience of the dangers of meth labs; agents of the State
Bureau of Investigation; and one of North Carolina's two clandestine
mobile laboratories.

The Rowan County Meth Watch Program is about education, prevention and
participation. Please join us on Tuesday to learn what each of us can
do to attack the meth problem and the threat that it poses to our
public safety. Working together, Rowan County will be the first
success story in the battle against methamphetamine.

Before being named U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of North
Carolina, Wagoner was chief district judge in Rowan County.