MELTON: STATE LAWS NEED TO CHANGE TO FIGHT ILLEGAL DRUGS

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Methamphetamine and crack cocaine are two of the
biggest problems facing Mississippi, yet state laws can put drug fighters
at a disadvantage and the public at risk, the Bureau of Narcotics chief says.

Frank Melton said he hopes to convince legislators to make some changes
next year, but until then he'll find unconventional ways to effectively
fight the drugs that prey on both children and adults.

For one thing, the narcotics chief said, his agents have to go through too
much red tape when it comes to arresting meth manufacturers, who use
explosive chemicals in clandestine labs to produce the drug.

Melton used a drug bust earlier this year as an example during an interview
last week with The Associated Press. He said a meth laboratory was
discovered at a hotel near Dennery's, a restaurant near downtown Jackson.

"The way the law states is that we can go in and we can dismantle the
laboratory to keep it from being a danger to the people, but then we have
to go in and get a search warrant," Melton said. "Well, the time that it
takes us to go and get that warrant, we have people's lives in danger."

Melton said he had other reasons for concentrating on crack cocaine and
meth - children.

He said not only were children addicted to the drugs but at times were
forced to become dealers by their families. And, he said, meth makers often
hide their labs in their homes, stirring the brew in the same room as their
children.

Another hindrance, Melton said, is that state law prohibits the Mississippi
Bureau of Narcotics from conducting roadblocks. Melton came under fire
shortly after he was appointed MBN chief for conducting a roadblock to
check licenses near the Capitol.

The Highway Patrol and police departments are among the agencies that can
set up roadblocks.

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling prohibits roadblocks specifically to check for
drugs, but Melton believes such checks could result in more drug arrests.

"Most of your drugs right now are being transported on the ground. They're
moving now on the ground because you can't get it through the airports
anymore because of the pre-security check-ins," Melton said.

"We get caught up in these things, we can't check for driver's licenses,"
he said. "We can't stop trucks. It almost ties our hands behind our backs."

Melton, 52, is a former television executive known for his blunt editorials
about drugs and crime. He had no law enforcement experience when Gov.
Ronnie Musgrove tapped him to lead the narcotics bureau in December. He has
since completed Drug Enforcement Agency training at Quantico, Va.

Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Columbus, who is a former Lowndes County prosecutor,
said even if the state laws were relaxed, Melton would still have to abide
by federal laws.

"There has to be a logical reason to stop autos," said Smith, a member of
the House Judiciary A Committee.

He said the U.S. Constitution guarantees protection against unreasonable
search and seizure.

"He does need to have more authority to stop vehicles with suspicious
activity," Smith said of Melton. "He also needs to be able to make more
strong seizure and search procedures.

"I'd be willing to help in my capacity as a lawmaker, but some of that is
going to be out of our hands," Smith said.

Melton said he's especially hard on meth users and manufacturers. Since
October 2002, officials have cleaned up 179 clandestine labs in the state.

Melton said he forbids meth suspects to return to their homes after they're
arrested. Meth manufacturing puts everyone in a neighborhood at risk
because one mistake could result in an explosion, he said.

"What I'm doing there, which also is not legal, when I find those large
laboratories like that, they're (those who operate the labs) no longer
eligible to live in those neighborhoods," he said.

Nancy East of the state attorney general's office said officials can
legally secure a crime scene.

"There's really not a time limit - four hours or four days," East said.
"However long it will take you to make sure that place is safe."