OFFICERS FACE UNKNOWN DANGERS DURING RAIDS ON ILLEGAL DRUG LABS

With every trip into a running Crystal Methamphetamine Laboratory, officers
of the Southeast Mississippi Drug Task Force have a nagging feeling in the
back of their minds.

Highly trained and (hopefully) overprepared, the agents put their lives on
the line in order to help save a few lives from the dangers of the Jones
County area's most prevalent drug.

"My biggest worry is that maybe some information has slipped through and
(the lab workers) are prepared for us when we come through," agent Stan
Livingston said. "When that happens, I hope every one comes home safe."

They never know

And the agents' worries are based on good, sound logic. During the raids,
the SMDTF have recovered some very potent arsenals including assault
weapons, sawed off shotguns and worse.

"We have had information that some people have pipe bombs (installed),"
agent Macon Davis said. "That makes us set up our raids different.

"Once, in 2000, the lab appeared to be wired. We called the EOD (704th
Ordnance Detachment) team out of Camp Shelby to come out. They sent the
robot in and there was wiring there, but luckily, the bombs were not set."

But pipe bombs and armed suspects are not the only consideration of the ten
man entry team.

"One of the main risks when you go into a meth lab, especially a working
one, is the fumes," Jones County Sheriff Larry Dykes said.

He has personal experience. Dykes had the misfortune of staying in a lab a
little too long back in 2000 and ended up sick from the fumes. Dykes
described the experience as, "sort of like smelling a skunk; once you smell
one, you can never forget it."

To protect against the dangers of the fumes and possibly detecting chemical
pnuemonia, the SMDTF has a policy that once a lab is determined to be
active, everyone backs out.

Team members outfitted with breathers similar to those used by the fire
department then enter until it is clear.