100 METH LABS TAKEN APART THIS YEAR, 57 IN WOOD COUNTY

More than 100 clandestine methamphetamine labs have been dismantled in West
Virginia this year, with Wood County leading the way.

State Police said they have discovered more of the "crank" laboratories in
the western section of the state. They first started finding them in heavy
numbers in Wood County three years ago.

"It's a trend that goes from the West Coast to the East Coast and a lot of
it has happened in western West Virginia," said Trooper Jay Powers, State
Police spokesman. Police believe the trend is moving across the state
quickly.

State Police and federal authorities held a joint press conference Wednesday
to explain the dangers of the clandestine labs, frequently set up in
bathrooms and kitchens.

In 2002, 57 meth labs have been discovered by law enforcement officers in
Wood County, the highest number in the state. At least 13 have been
dismantled in Putnam County, Powers said.

"In the Parkersburg area, it is really, really prevalent," he said.

But, at the same time, State Police, working in conjunction with local
authorities, have more officers trained to detect the labs in that section
of the state, Powers said.

Chemicals used to produce the "speed-type" drug are flammable and frequently
are known to explode into flames.