METH TASK FORCE COMBINES RESOURCES FROM SEVERAL AGENCIES

Prosecuting over 100 defendants over the past year, the Southeastern
Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force has combined law enforcement agencies
in hopes of combating the meth epidemic.

Given their recent impact, the task force has released a new hotline number
citizens can call to report suspected methamphetamine trafficking at
1-866-RID-METH.

According to latest statistics released by the task force, over 350
clandestine meth labs were seized in Tennessee during 2001, a drastic
increase from 2000 when just over 200 were seized. Many of the labs were
seized in Warren County; however, the exact number of labs seized here last
year is unknown.

The number of labs raided in Tennessee dwarfs other states as neighboring
Georgia had just over 100 seizures while states like South Carolina and
North Carolina had only a handful last year.

The Southeastern Tennessee Task Force is a combination of several local,
state and federal law enforcement agencies which includes McMinnville
Police Department, Warren County Sheriff's Department and the 31st Judicial
District Attorney's office of Dale Potter. Most of those arrested by the
task force are prosecuted in federal court, where sentences run much longer
than on the state level.

According to the task force, meth is made using common household items
which are often purchased in stores by meth-makers. The fumes put off by
the manufacture of the drug are harmful and prolonged exposure to them can
cause serious illness and even death. Labs are also highly explosive and
have been blamed for several deaths across the state.

In asking the public's help in identifying meth labs, the task force has
revealed some tell-tale signs of meth traffickers, which when combined,
could point a finger at a trafficker. The signs include frequent visitors
at the home night and day, frequent late-night activity, windows blackened
or curtains always drawn, the person is unemployed yet still drives an
expensive car, the person seems to always have plenty of money and pays
bills with cash, secretive about activities, watches cars suspiciously when
they pass by, paranoid or odd behavior, extensive attention to security,
chemical odors coming from the house or out-buildings, garbage frequently
has numerous bottles or larger containers, and behavior such as setting out
their garbage in their neighbor's collection area.

While some of the aforementioned circumstances could cover many people, a
combination of several of the items could be indicative of illegal
activity. Anyone suspecting meth activity in their neighborhood is asked to
contact the hotline or one of the local law enforcement agencies.