MDEA and local law enforcement busting more meth labs
PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) —
There have been more meth busts in Maine in 2015 than in ever before, partially thanks to training local law enforcement are required to take.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency’s executive director Roy McKinney said Sunday that local law enforcement are coming across more meth labs when responding to other matters because they are required to be trained in knowing the signs of a lab.
McKinney said police need that training “because of the inherent danger.”
If the reaction vessel where meth is created re-energizes, it can be explosive and flammable, according to McKinney.
“Lithium and water is extremely volatile,” said McKinney.
There have been nine meth busts in Cumberland County in 2015, compared to just one in 2014. Across the state, there have been 49 so far this year, which is a new record, compared to 37 last year.
“We want to suppress that activity before it gets to a point that it’s overwhelming,” said McKinney. “[The numbers] are still low in comparison to some states in the midwest and the South.”
According to the United States DEA, Indiana had the most meth incidents in 2014, with a total of 1,471. Missouri had the second most with 1,034.
“It is disturbing. There’s a tremendous amount of public safety resources that come to bear on these situations,” said McKinney.
In addition to DEA, local law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, and the Department of Environmental Protection must respond to these incidents. Maine was one of six states to receive a Community-Oriented Policing Services grant in October.
“We have the assets to have probably — or not probably, I know — the best meth response in New England,” said McKinney.
Filed under: General Problems
Leave a Reply