TASK FORCE BATTLES METH LABS

Springs-Area Cops Lead State In Busts

COLORADO SPRINGS - A drug-enforcement task force led by the Colorado
Springs police continues to lead the state in uncovering methamphetamine labs.

The team, which covers El Paso and Teller counties, busted 156 clandestine
labs in 2003, most of them in Colorado Springs. There were 153 labs
uncovered in the area in 2002 and 87 in 2001.

By comparison, the Denver Police Department busted 25 labs last year. The
North Metro Task Force, which covers Adams and Broomfield counties,
uncovered 66 labs. "They have led the state for the past couple of years,"
Bev Walz of the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area said of
the Colorado Springs-based group.

Police Cmdr. Kurt Pillard doesn't think the city has more meth labs than
others.

He attributes the high number of busts to aggressive enforcement and
community-education efforts.

The meth task force, which includes personnel from the El Paso and Teller
county sheriff's offices and Colorado Springs and Fountain police
departments, held 62 community presentations last year.

Police Sgt. Terry Curry, who heads the team, still wants to reach more people.

He said lax sentencing for methamphetamine makers is a big part of the problem.

"You cook meth three times here, and you get probation," he said. "If you
go to Wyoming and cook methamphetamine, you'll go to prison the first time.
I don't have to worry about you until you get out of prison."

Methamphetamine, which can be made with over-the-counter cold medicine and
common household chemicals, can be made in clandestine labs that create
explosive and corrosive byproducts.