July 21, 2008

Officials need helping fighting meth spread

BY ROY MITCHELL

CENTRE — Law enforcement officials say illegal methamphetamine manufacturing has skyrocketed in 2008, further infiltrating some of Cherokee County's back roads and basements. Without the watchful eye of local merchants and additional funding for the county's narcotics unit, there may be little hope of thwarting a growing epidemic.

Charles Clifton, the commander of the Cherokee County Narcotics Unit, said that so far in 2008, 18 meth labs have been uncovered and destroyed. That total already surpasses 2006 and 2007 yearly accumulations. (Eleven labs were taken last year, and 17 were nabbed in '06.) Furthermore, the county narcotics unit knows of the presence of even more meth labs, but they are gathering enough evidence to ensure convictions before acting upon them.

In waging war against methamphetamine, one could argue that the Cherokee County Narcotics Unit is not only undermanned, but underfunded.

Despite a proliferation of meth lab busts this year, the narcotics unit is comprised of only three officers.

“We do the best we can with the number of people we have here,” said Clifton.

The unit is able to spend a portion of the money seized in drug raids. Otherwise, the unit relies on donations and hand-me-downs. Clifton writes grants, hoping to secure funds to satisfy the county's needs.

In previous years, the unit acquired a new agent and technological equipment from a federal grant, but last year both grant requests were denied. Clifton hopes to receive grant money this year that will provide the unit with a vehicle.

“We have to have more funding at a local level,” he said.

The county meth production increase exists despite statewide restrictions of the sale of ephedrine-based cold medicines. The law, which took effect in October 2005, requires stores to record the names and drivers licenses of customers purchasing medicines containing ephedrine or pseudo-ephedrine. Consumers are also limited to the purchase of only two packages per person.

“What they're doing now is making smaller quantities of meth,” said Sheriff Jeff Shaver. “The larger quantities are coming from Mexico and other countries.”

Clifton said the flow of Mexican meth to large Southern cities and eventually to Cherokee County has definitely slowed this year.

“There's a meth decrease from the hub cities such as Atlanta,” he said. “For whatever reason, it's not getting here as well as it used to.”

On the surface, a lack of imported meth might appear favorable for rural areas, yet the opposite effect seems to have occurred. Clifton says that since the demand for the drug still exists, locals users often resort to creating their own supply.

Clifton said the county's best weapons in combating the meth increase are store and pharmaceutical vendors. Methamphetamine manufacturers need a variety of common products to produce the drug. Pseudo-ephedrine or ephedrine in any concentration, large quantities of matches, denatured alcohol, camping fuel, muriatic acid, rubber tubing, propane tanks, acetone, brake fluid, drain opener, iodine, coolers, and buckets are some of the items commonly used by meth manufacturers.

A letter sent to vendors by the Cherokee County Narcotics Unit emphasizes that “Purchasing these items individually does not necessarily indicate a person is making methamphetamine. However, if anyone is buying large quantities or buying combinations of any of these products, they may be involved in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.”

Following recent arrests, the narcotics unit has been puzzled that meth-making products purchased from local vendors didn't result in the merchants contacting their office.

“We want to encourage store owners to call, call, call, call,” Clifton pleaded.

If a vendor feels that they have witnessed a suspicious purchase or suspect someone of methamphetamine manufacturing, the Cherokee County Narcotics Unit encourages them to please call at 256-927-5646 or 256-557-2065 and furnish as much as they can of the following information: suspect's name, specific items purchased, description of the person, driver's license or identification information of purchaser and type of vehicle, including the license plate number.

“Do not attempt to stop or apprehend anyone on your own,” Clifton said. “Your information will be kept confidential.”

While individual vendors are required to check driver's licenses and names of customers buying ephedrine-based medicine, there is no central database of customer identification. Meth cooks can literally buy small amounts of ingredients at different stores, avoiding detection.

Recently, Mobile and Baldwin counties have successfully acquired a $450,000 grant to, among other things, create a database of all customers purchasing meth-making products. Clifton would love to have a similar database in the county, but lack of funding and manpower makes creating and updating such a list virtually impossible, he said.

With only three narcotics officers available to patrol the county's 553 square miles, Clifton and his fellow officers have no choice but to reply on citizens and merchants to help them keep methamphetamine manufacturing under control.