POLICE: DRUG BUST SURGE MAY BE TIED TO WOOD CRACKDOWN

CHARLESTON -- Authorities in Kanawha and Putnam counties say the number of
methamphetamine labs busted by police has surged in recent months and the
increase may be related to a crackdown in Wood County.

In the past six months, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Department has found
five methamphetamine labs, the Kanawha County Metro Drug Unit has found
five and the Putnam County Narcotics Unit has found four.

''Wood County has been seeing this problem for quite sometime,'' said
Detective Don Herdman of the Putnam County Narcotics Unit. ''It's just
natural that it comes to this area because of the population. They kept
saying it was going to be coming, and it certainly has.''

However, it is difficult to determine whether methamphetamine dealers are
migrating from Wood County, said Sgt. Jess Bailes of the Kanawha County
Sheriff's Department.

''I think it is a dominant problem within the county,'' Bailes said.
''We've discovered more (labs) since July of last year than in the past
four or five years, but we have stepped up our enforcement efforts.''

''Criminals are opportunists. Every time you step up enforcement ... they
are going to go where they can practice their trade.''

Sgt. Joe Savilla of the Kanawha County Metro Drug Unit said the recent
increase in methamphetamine labs also could be related to tightened border
security after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.