ATTORNEY GENERAL LAUNCHES CRYSTAL METH OFFENSIVE

Chemicals stolen from industrial sites. Dangerous, flammable gases
inside residential neighborhoods.

Those are problems related to illegal methamphetamines produced in
clandestine laboratories across the state, particularly in Harnett and
Johnston counties.

The homemade drug, commonly known as crystal meth, is dangerous and
addictive and is skyrocketing in production and popularity among drug
users. In the five years since the State Bureau of Investigation
starting investigating crystal meth labs, the number of labs
discovered jumped from nine in 1999 to 177 in 2003. The rapid growth
of the drug's production and popularity has alarmed law enforcement
agencies.

To help combat the drug's growth, State Attorney General Roy Cooper
announced a plan Tuesday to wage a new war on crystal meth. Harnett
and Johnston counties are two of four counties considered to be major
meth manufacturing counties, that will receive grant money to help
make medical screenings available for children found at meth labs. The
other counties are Watauga and Ashe.

The $312,000 grant, made available by the U.S. Department of Justice's
Community Oriented Policing Services, will also provide additional
funds needed for social service workers and law officers who work meth
cases. In 2003, children were found in one-fourth of meth labs busted.
Children in labs can be exposed to risks of explosion, fire and toxic
chemicals.

North Carolina is the first state on the East Coast to be awarded such
a grant. The attorney general's press release did not indicate how
much money each county would receive.

In the last few years, law enforcement agencies have scrambled to come
up with a plan to halt the drug's growth. Seminars and special
training with chemical experts have been part of the solution. Because
of the chemical dangers associated with meth labs, fire and rescue
departments have also received training.

"Criminals who make meth pollute the water and ground, poison the mind
and body, and worse yet, ruin the health and lives of young children,"
Mr. Cooper said Tuesday. "In just the last four years, these secret
drug labs have exploded across our state."

The attorney general's report recommends tougher penalties for
criminals who manufacture meth, as well as laws that target the
possession of precursor ingredients needed to make meth and that hold
meth pushers responsible if their drugs lead to overdose deaths.

Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins formed a drug task force to step
up efforts to battle crystal meth. Johnston County authorities have
also increased their focus on meth labs. Many of the meth labs
discovered in the last few years were in northern Sampson County.

Some of the ingredients used to make crystal meth include ammonia and
over-the-counter drugs like Sudafed. Now, law officers are paying
close attention since a grocery cart full of cold medicine signals
doesn't mean the drug will be used to treat the sniffles.

Last July, an alert assistant manager at the Dunn Wal-Mart alerted
police when three customers bought a large amount of medicine.

In April 2002, two Erwin police officers were treated at a hospital
after they inhaled chemical fumes while investigating a meth lab in a
house in Erwin. Two streets were closed while firefighters and a
hazardous materials team cleaned up the scene.

Earlier this month, Johnston County authorities linked a meth arrest
to the theft of anhydrous ammonia from a hog processing plant in
Duplin County. The same chemical, suspected of being used to make
crystal meth, was stolen from Polymer Group Inc. of Benson last year.

The attorney general's report points to a need for a public awareness
effort so that all citizens can learn to identify and report dangerous
meth labs in their community.

"The meth epidemic poses a whole new set of challenges and dangers for
law enforcement, first responders, prosecutors, public health
officials, and child welfare agencies," Mr. Cooper said. "We must
attack this problem now."

Attorney General's findings:

1. State criminal law is inefficient.

2. Children are found in an alarming number of meth
labs.

3. Meth problem will overwhelm law enforcement capabilities if steps
are not taken to combat the drug.

4. Public awareness of the drug is too low.

5. North Carolina has made significant progress combating crystal meth
and meth labs.