Fed grant to help police battle meth use

Jen Lawson

Monday, Nov. 18, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

Methamphetamine use is growing in Henderson and Boulder City, and police are hoping to intensify efforts to combat the drug through a federal grant.

The grant, disbursed through the Justice Department, would give Henderson Police $192,000 and Boulder City Police $30,000 for equipment and supplies to help curb meth use.

"Meth is the No. 1 drug in Henderson. It's been a problem for years here," narcotics Sgt. Norman Richardson said. "These grants are a good way to get funding to fight these problems without impacting the local economy."

The Small Rural Communities Methamphetamine Grant requires that two local police jurisdictions team up to apply for the grant. Henderson initiated it and asked Boulder City to join.

Meth, also called crank, stimulates the central nervous system and has several forms, including ice, a crystal-like solid form which can be smoked.

So far this year undercover detectives in Henderson Police have bought meth 30 times from drug dealers, Richardson said. They bought cocaine eight times and marijuana twice.

Between January and September, Henderson police arrested 164 people for meth possession. Last year 323 people were arrested, 243 meth arrests were made in 2000 and 205 in 1999.

Henderson Police bust an average of 20 meth labs a year, Richardson said.

"A meth lab is so dangerous for the surrounding area," he said. "We'd like to shut down every meth lab out there."

Part of the meth-making process involves taking ephedrine tablets found in over-the-counter decongestants and heating them until the ephedrine is highly concentrated.

Converting the ephedrine into a sellable form is done by adding hidriodic acid, found in iodine crystals, and red phosphorus, which is used in the manufacturing of fireworks.

Hidriodic acid can dissolve human flesh. Red phosphorus, if mishandled, can convert into yellow phosphorus, which ignites spontaneously. Meth makers also use flammable solvents such as chloroform and Freon.

Lt. James Green said the police department plans to buy a specially equipped vehicle that would house the training materials as well as lab cleanup equipment. Police will be able to drive the vehicle to local hotels, for example, to show housekeepers how to recognize meth labs that cookers sometimes set up in hotel rooms.

Boulder City will use its portion to buy surveillance equipment for meth investigations.

"We have our share of drug dealers," Boulder City Councilman Mike Pacini said. "Anywhere you have one person selling meth, it's a problem."