Snap 06-18-07

Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota

METH Awareness And Prevention Project of South Dakota

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June 18, 2007

In Tennessee – A drug bust ended with five arrests and more than a pound of seized Meth. The case originated with a traffic stop. The police officer noticed what turned out to be a red phosphorous Meth lab on the passenger floorboard. The three people in the car told officers they were headed to a mobile home. Police searched the mobile home and found more than a pound of Meth in a cookie jar on the counter. They also found more than 100 needles, bags of pot, and spoons full of drugs. A 57-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were arrested in the home. Combined, all five suspects face at least 25 charges.

In Ohio - A deputy doing routine patrol noticed a car sitting along side the road. When the deputy approached the car, a man came from the woods where the car was parked and the deputy saw strands of cooper wire lying on the ground. There have been a number of reports in the area about stolen copper wire, so the deputy investigated the situation and found components of a suspected Meth lab. A further search ensued after officers gained the property owner’s permission. They found a Meth lab and some unknown chemicals that they sent to a lab for analysis. A continuing search on another parcel of land turned up more items that appeared to be Meth lab waste and a sizable dumpsite for Meth lab materials.

In Tennessee - A woman faces federal charges after authorities reportedly caught her using Meth in the Cherokee National Forest. A U.S. Forest Service officer spied a car parked n an old logging road. The woman and a man were inside and told him that there were no drugs in the car, but he found a cut straw with a substance in a small baggie. The woman admitted it was Meth.

In Illinois - A man was sentenced to six months in jail with work release for making Meth for himself in his house while his children were present; he was also ordered to serve 30 months probation. The judge in the case told the defendant that if he had sold the Meth he made even once, he would have sentenced him to the maximum prison sentence allowed under law. The man told the judge he was a 10-year Meth addict, trying and failing twice to cook Meth on his own, but “I was never very good at it.” Officers were tipped off to his activities by tracking his purchases – within two months he bought 24,000 milligrams of pseudoephedrine. When authorities went to arrest him for his purchases, they discovered a Meth lab in the cooking process. Two children, ages 8 and 9, were at home and exposed to the Meth cooking environment. As part of a plea deal, the defendant pled guilty to and was sentenced for one count of unlawful possession of Meth-making material and one of unlawful use of property. Two counts of Meth-related child endangerment were dropped in the deal.

In Tennessee – A father and son are facing charges after agents said they dealt in weapons and Meth with undercover officers. Authorities say that within a month, there had been purchases of 10 firearms from the pair for cash, and they allegedly agreed to trade three firearms for an ounce of Meth. An undercover officer showed up at the meeting spot to complete the deal, and after seeing the three shotguns, police and ATF agents executed a search warrant and arrested both men. One admitted he had traded weapons for Meth and crack in the past. Both suspects are convicted felons.

In Iowa – A 27-year-old man was arrested following a search of his home. Officers found Meth and ingredients to make more. The suspect faces a variety of felony charges.

In Florida - Investigators report finding a Meth lab in a motor home after tracking purchases of materials used in Meth manufacturing. A 43-year-old man is charged with Meth manufacturing and possession, as well as possession of listed chemicals and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.

In Georgia - Agents arrested a 50-year-old woman on Meth charges. Officers found her holding several baggies of crystal Meth, along with two sets of digital scales and a ledger.