OETA Story on Meth Detection Aired 09/15/09

This is astory that aired on OETA Public Television’s The Oklahoma News Report in Tulsa Oklahoma as reported by Cathy Tatom and photojournalist Edwin Wilson. For more information or to contact us, please go to the new and improved www.oeta.tv The verbatim script follows below… THE NUMBER OF METH LABS SPRINGING UP IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA IS SO SIGNIFICANT THE DEA IS STRIKING BACK. IT’S GIVING DOZENS OF THE AREA’S POLICE OFFICERS SPECIAL TRAINING AT OSU-TULSA. OETA’S CATHY TATOM REPORTS IT’S TRAINING USUALLY ONLY OFFERED AT DEA HEADQUARTERS IN VIRGINIA. THE SUDDEN SURGE IN METH LABS IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA IS LEAVING A TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION AND DEATH. Ed Childress/DEA Agent: “We’ve had 11 lab related deaths.” THE CHEMICALS USED TO MAKE THE DRUGS… AND FIRES SPARKED BY METH LAB EXPLOSIONS… HAVE DESTROYED OR CONTAMINATED HOTELS, HOMES AND BUSINESSES INCLUDING THE MAY BROTHERS BUILDING IN BARTLESVILLE. THE MAKINGS OF A METH LAB WAS DISCOVERED IN ITS ASHES. Ed Childress/DEA Agent: “These are very volatile situations.” VOLATILE BECAUSE METH MAKERS IN NORTHEAST OKLAHOMA ARE USING A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS METHOD CALLED ONE-POT OR SHAKE-AND-BAKE TO COOK SMALL BATCHES OF DRUGS – OFTEN TIMES IN A SODA BOTTLE. Chuck Johannes/DEA Instructor: “They can go right down to WalMart or a grocery store and pick up everything they need to manufacture methamphetamine.” TO CRACK DOWN ON DRUG MAKERS… AND THE DANGER COOKING METH POSES TO THE PUBLIC… THE DEA FELT THE NEED TO SEND ITS INSTRUCTORS …