Updated 10/05/2012 04:42 PM
Police Ask for Public's Help to Detect Meth Labs
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From east to west: what's known as the "rural drug," is on the rise.
"Law enforcement in the past year is recognizing a drastic increase in the amount of meth labs we are responding to," said Commander Christopher Cummings, Troop A, Batavia.
"Methamphetamine hydrochloride, otherwise known as meth," said Sgt. Doug Wildermuth, State Police CNET.
State Police have busted 100 meth labs so far this year; close to 75 of them in Central New York and the Finger Lakes. It's not that any so-called "superlabs" are popping up.
"The ultimate users generally turn to manufacturing it themselves," said Lt. Martin McKee, State Police CNET.
More and more, police say people are making their own meth, and causing danger to everyone around them.
Despite the reckless danger, meth producers are getting smarter, and tougher to crack down upon. In past years, dozens of meth labs were busted in Western New York's Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming and Livingston Counties. But so far this year: zero.
"I would doubt that there's a knockdown – it's just maybe they're not being reported or recognized," Cummings said.
That's where the public comes in. State Police say there's any number of warning signs you can look for to spot a meth lab in your area. From telltale garbage on the side of the road, to the talk around town, or even a strange chemical smell.
"A lot of the cooks don't properly dispose of this stuff, appropriately. So when it piles up in certain locations, the remnants of that consistently smell. A chemical odor," Wildermuth said.
And keep an eye out for these sorts of pedestrian chemicals – State Police say your education is key to meth prevention.
"That's the big thing. You really need to identify some of the chemicals that are in this process, and be able to report it to local law enforcement," said Wildermuth.
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