Departments | Sheriff | In the News | Meth lab numbers continue drop
North Iowa law enforcement officers say the war against the drug is far from over, however
Article written by Bob Link and used with permission from the Globe Gazette, published on Thursday, June 7, 2007.
MASON CITY - Two years after Iowa law put medicines containing pseudoephedrine behind retail counters, the number of methamphetamine labs continues to decline.
And while they're pleased with the result, North Iowa officers fighting the battle against the street drug say the war is far from over.
Pseudoephedrine is an ingredient in cold and allergy medicines and is the key ingredient used to make methamphetamine.
After a year, the law that limits sales of pseudoephedrine and requires purchasers to sign for it cut the number of reported labs by 49 percent.
Now, after two years, the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy says the number of labs has decreased by 87 percent from 2004.
In Cerro Gordo County, Sheriff Kevin Pals said the number of labs went from 37 during 2004 to 22 during 2006. Pals also heads the North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force.
"Our numbers basically follow the trend," Pals said. "But we continue to make meth-related arrests at an alarmingly high rate."
During 2004, Cerro Gordo County officers arrested 101 people for controlled substance violations. During 2006, the number was at 94. The figure does not include Mason City Police Department arrests.
Even when manufacturing meth was easier, authorities estimated that between 80 and 85 percent of the drug came from out of state, Pals said.
David Hepperly, chief deputy for the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Department, said the new laws have made the streets and countryside safer.
"At least now we don't have people walking in parks or out hunting, stumbling in meth lab remains," Hepperly said.
"I'm not surprised at the decrease," he said. "At face value that is certainly an impressive amount.
"But on the down side," said Hepperly, "it has driven the people who cook meth farther underground. There is still a certain group of people out there making meth."
Matt Klunder, a Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Department deputy who also works with the North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force, said five people have been arrested for consipring to operate or operating meth labs so far this year.
There also have been a number of people arrested for purchasing too much pseudoephedrine.
Pharmacies keep track of the people who purchase the cold medicine and law enforcement officers make periodic checks.
Klunder said 40 people have been arrested during the past two years for purchasing too much pseudoephedrine.
"Some people will buy it and trade it for meth from people who do cook it," said Klunder.
While meth lab numbers are down, reports of crystal meth (or "ice") are rising in many parts of the state.
Narcotics officers say ice is the primary product marketed in North Iowa.
According to a federal report, Iowa has the nation's eighth highest rate of meth use.
