REPORT ILLEGAL ACTIVITY

Baytown residents cannot remain passive when they suspect drug use and
related activities in their own neighborhoods.

Residents must be alert and report any suspicions to eliminate the
opportunity for meth labs to exist. Meth labs, which include highly
explosive ingredients, are showing up in populated areas.

Recently, the Baytown Police Department Narcotics Unit raided a
methamphetamine laboratory in a house in the 400 block of Park Street. A
Baytown man was arrested in connection with the case. In the house, police
discovered 400 grams of methamphetamine, with an estimated street value of
$44,000.

This was the third such lab bust in a month in Baytown.

After the raid, members of the Texas Department of Public Safety Drug Task
Force assisted the Baytown Police with the removal of the chemicals, which
included two pounds of ephedrine, methyl alcohol, acetone and sulfuric acid.

It's that toxic soup used to make meth that could take out a whole block if
it exploded.

For their own protection, neighbors and business owners need to be
proactive if they suspect drug activity, especially methamphetamine.
Unfortunately, meth is not difficult to manufacture, and the ingredients
are easy to obtain. Meth labs also are very portable. They can show up in
any neighborhood.

Crimes always include opportunity, motive and a method of operation. In the
case of drug use, especially highly addictive methamphetamine, it is
difficult to remove motive and predict method of operation. However, any of
us can help reduce opportunity.

We simply have to be aware of the possibility of illegal activity and
report it to law officials.

Today's editorial was written by David Bloom, managing editor of The
Baytown Sun, on behalf of the newspaper's editorial board.