Meth Lab Seizures Declining in NWA
By: Cassidy Hodges
Updated: January 21, 2013
Authorities say the number of meth lab seizures in Washington and Madison County has dropped significantly over the last 3 years.
Meth Lab Seizures by 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force
2010- 53
2011- 42
2012- 15
Meth Lab Seizures by 4th Judicial District Drug Task Force
2010- 53
2011- 42
2012- 15
In the past few years more and more registries have been made that track the purchase of meth ingredients like Pseudoephedrine.
And now those lists are being dispersed across state lines.
The fight against methamphetamine, "It's still easily accessible and it's highly addictive," says Benton County Sheriff Kelley Cradduck.
A national problem so big it's even become a hit TV series.
But local law enforcement finding one thing that works to fight it.
"If we're combining our resources, especially information than we're equipped to better fight this problem," says Cradduck.
"I know that information sharing has improved quite a bit as opposed to years past," says Sgt. Craig Stout, with the Fayetteville Police Department.
Stout says just last year meth lab seizures went from 42 to 15, a staggering drop.
"It's safer there's no doubt about it. Those labs are dangerous, they're toxic, the fumes many of them you can't even smell until its too late," says Cradduck.
But Northwest Arkansas isn't out of the woods yet.
"While we haven't found as many labs, that may be good in the short term, but we also then have to look at where the meth is coming from," says Stout.
"We are surrounded by states who typically overall have an overall higher average of meth lab seizures."
And so the line of communication is stretching. Oklahoma now releasing their Pseudoephedrine to neighboring states in hopes to curb drugs moving across state lines.
"When you do that type of information sharing, it can only help with just cutting down on the illegal activity," says Stout.
"That will be key for us to have a region free of meth and or at least make a big dent in it," says Cradduck.
And now those lists are being dispersed across state lines.
The fight against methamphetamine, "It's still easily accessible and it's highly addictive," says Benton County Sheriff Kelley Cradduck.
A national problem so big it's even become a hit TV series.
But local law enforcement finding one thing that works to fight it.
"If we're combining our resources, especially information than we're equipped to better fight this problem," says Cradduck.
"I know that information sharing has improved quite a bit as opposed to years past," says Sgt. Craig Stout, with the Fayetteville Police Department.
Stout says just last year meth lab seizures went from 42 to 15, a staggering drop.
"It's safer there's no doubt about it. Those labs are dangerous, they're toxic, the fumes many of them you can't even smell until its too late," says Cradduck.
But Northwest Arkansas isn't out of the woods yet.
"While we haven't found as many labs, that may be good in the short term, but we also then have to look at where the meth is coming from," says Stout.
"We are surrounded by states who typically overall have an overall higher average of meth lab seizures."
And so the line of communication is stretching. Oklahoma now releasing their Pseudoephedrine to neighboring states in hopes to curb drugs moving across state lines.
"When you do that type of information sharing, it can only help with just cutting down on the illegal activity," says Stout.
"That will be key for us to have a region free of meth and or at least make a big dent in it," says Cradduck.
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