Wednesday, March 2, 2011
From the West Virginia State Police
South Charleston, West Virginia – In recent months, the West Virginia State Police has noticed an increase in the number of clandestine laboratories discovered, specifically in the Kanawha Valley. There are several factors which may be responsible for contributing to this increase. Among the factors include the following: increased awareness and reporting of crimes by the public; the availability of pseudoephedrine purchasing reports through a cooperative agreement between the West Virginia State Police and the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy; and increased efforts to educate law enforcement officers concerning the process of identifying components and apparatus necessary for the operation of clandestine laboratories.
From January 3, 2011 until February 22, 2011, the West Virginia State Police established a Clandestine Laboratory Task Force consisting of five Troopers to combat the production of methamphetamine and gauge the magnitude of the problem. The members of the task force included: Lieutenant M. L. Goff, Sergeant L. G. O’Bryan, Trooper First Class J. S. Crane, Trooper First Class P. A. Green, and Senior Trooper L. W. Price.
Click here to view maps that show the clandestine laboratories discovered as a result of the task force’s efforts. Overall, 44 suspects were arrested for attempting to operate a clandestine laboratory. The following represents additional activity generated by the task force:
• 20 methamphetamine felony arrests unrelated to the operation of a methamphetamine laboratory.
• 1 misdemeanor capias served.
• 8 misdemeanor warrants relating to the illegal purchase of pseudoephedrine served.
Colonel T. S. Pack would like to issue the following statement, “Clandestine laboratories are not only a threat to the individuals who participate in this type of criminal activity but to the community at large as well. The West Virginia State Police is requesting that the public remain vigilant in their neighborhoods and continue to play an active role by informing law enforcement of the potential presence of such laboratories. This can be accomplished by either calling a local detachment of the West Virginia State Police or by submitting information via the internet at www.wvcrime.com .”
Contact: Sergeant M. T. Baylous: 304-746-2198.