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National meth lab busts up in 2011

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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

(Updated 3:07 pm)

By Jim Salter
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — An Associated Press survey of the nation's top methamphetamine-producing states shows national lab seizures rose again last year.

The survey confirmed that Missouri regained the top spot for lab seizures in 2011 with just more than 2,000 busts. It also found that Tennessee came in second with almost 1,700, followed by Indiana, Kentucky and Oklahoma.

Federal data the AP obtained this week from the Drug Enforcement Administration appeared to show meth lab seizures remained about even during the past two years. But totals from the states surveyed by AP are higher.

The numbers combined indicate nationwide meth lab seizures actually rose at least 8.3 percent in 2011 compared to 2010.

The AP polled the states after determining that several had not yet reported full-year data to the DEA.

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Interested

February 22, 2012 - 3:58 pm EST

How sad. I mean, it's great that LE is shutting down these labs. But how unfortunate that demand is apparently up.

Panacea

February 22, 2012 - 6:14 pm EST

There's two reasons why:

Better interdiction on drugs coming up from Mexico, and new home lab techniques like the "Shake and Bake" method that allow addicts to mix up a batch in a 2 liter soda bottle are making it easy and cheap to make meth again.

They make meth driving down the freeway, then toss the toxic soda bottle onto the highway when they're done.