TASK FORCE BATTLING METHAMPHETAMINE LABS EXPANDS REACH TO ALL ET

CHATTANOOGA - The popularity of methamphetamine, a highly addictive
stimulant made by cooking chemicals that are readily available, has
prompted a specialized drug task force to expand its reach through all of
East Tennessee.

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tennessee, said Thursday in Maynardville that the
regional methamphetamine task force, while getting another $1 million
annual appropriation, is expanding to include 41 counties.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Russ Dedrick said the task force was expanding
northward from the 21-county region south and west of McMinn County, to the
Kentucky border.

The task force, which started in 12 southeastern Tennessee counties in
fiscal 2000 from its first $1 million appropriation, enhances enforcement
work by state, county and city officers.

The Southeast Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force in 2002 seized 234 meth
labs. Through Wednesday, 326 labs have been seized this year, Dedrick said.

He said 974 labs have been "taken down" since the task force began.

The drug's greatest appeal is in rural areas, where cookers can hide the
stench of a recipe that includes cold pills containing ephedrine, brake
cleaner containing toluene, drain cleaner containing sulfuric acid, salt
and matchbook striking pads that contain red phosphorous.

Wamp said the $1 million pays for overtime, vehicles, enforcement equipment
such as hazardous materials suits and cleanups of the toxic chemical labs.