CRYSTAL METH GAINS POPULARITY

Seven Ounces Seized At House In Russian River Estates

Law enforcement officials are concerned they're now finding a more potent
and addictive form of methamphetamine on Ukiah's streets.

The Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force seized 7 ounces about 2,000 doses of
crystal methamphetamine during a search of a Russian Rivers Estates home
last week. Also found at the rented house were nearly two pounds of
standard methamphetamine, about a half pound of dried marijuana, a
pistol-grip shotgun and a Samurai sword tucked under a couch, according to
task force Commander Bob Nishiyama.

David Nunez, 22, was arrested in connection with the drugs. Task force
officers had been watching Nunez since being tipped off he was selling
methamphetamine, Nishiyama said. He was arrested in the Food 4 Less parking
lot with 4 ounces of methamphetamine, after which officers obtained a
search warrant for his home.

The search did not immediately take place because Nunez told officers he
lived at a Ukiah address. They discovered his actual address shortly after
going to the phony address.

Nunez was in jail while the search was conducted, but two other people a
man and a pregnant woman were at the residence. Neither was arrested in
connection with the drugs, Nishiyama said, however, the man was arrested on
an unrelated warrant.

Nishiyama said crystal methamphetamine which resembles ice shards, the
likely reason for its nickname, "ice" is a concern because it is easier to
smoke and more quickly absorbed than regular methamphetamine, making it a
more attractive high and more addictive.

"It gets absorbed into your system very very quickly and hits very very
quickly, consequently, that's its popularity," he said, adding that's the
same draw of rock cocaine.

Nishiyama said crystal methamphetamine has already become a huge problem in
Japan, Hawaii and the Philippines, where it's known as shabu.

"It's real big in Asia," he said.

He said he doesn't know why it became more popular in those places than the
United States.

But it's apparently gaining in popularity here. Nishiyama said this is the
fourth time a recent local bust has yielded crystal meth, and it's the most
seized to date in the Ukiah area.

"This is very definitely commercial quantities," he said.

Nishiyama said he suspects the drug may have been transported as or in
Christmas presents, based on finding both drug wrappers and Christmas
wrapping in the same trash can.

He said drugs also have been known to have been transported in stuffed animals.

Nishiyama said he also suspects Nunez was preparing marijuana for sale at
the Russian River Estates home. He said there were lines strung across the
ceiling and devices to sift seeds from leaves.

He said people living in the neighborhood also reported the telltale
drug-selling signs of frequent, short visits to the house by numerous people.

Nishiyama said he feels sorry for the owners of the house. He said the
carpet was stained and there were buckets of water from a dismantled,
broken sink in the kitchen.

"The house was beautiful at one time," he said.