PUTTING A DENT IN DRUG BUSINESS

The good news is Marshall County's Drug Enforcement Unit raided two crystal
methamphetamine labs this week - the fifth and sixth labs broken up by
Marshall officers so far this year. Six labs in about six weeks is a
remarkable pace.

The bad news is there were at least six labs operating in a single Alabama
county this year, and law enforcement agencies in other counties are
working crystal meth investigations, too.

Just in February, Etowah County officers found a drug lab after a house
fire and arrested three people, DeKalb County officers raided a lab inside
a chicken house and arrested three people and Calhoun County investigators
arrested a man they say has been one of that county's major methamphetamine
suppliers.

The large number of labs and arrests indicate the scope of the problem with
crystal meth in this area, but the arrests and raids also show the
commitment local law enforcement officers have made to break up the supply
of this drug in the local market.

Unlike marijuana and cocaine - the bulk of which is brought in from farming
operations far away - these crystal meth arrests were for people
manufacturing the drug in this area. The manufacturing process sometimes
puts innocent neighbors in jeopardy because of the dangerous and flammable
chemicals used in the making of the drug.

Law enforcement officers have made a commendable effort to find the people
who manufacture and deal in crystal methamphetamine already in this new year.

The number of labs raided and arrests made so far are proof that their
efforts and emphasis on this drug are needed.