March 21, 2003

Lansing - Michigan State Police officials are warning citizens that the manufacturing and use of the illegal drug Methamphetamine has greatly increased in the state of Michigan. The environmental dangers and health risks associated with Methamphetamine are serious, especially to unsuspecting victims such as public safety first responders and community members who may accidentally come across a Methamphetamine manufacturing operation.

Methamphetamine is different from other drugs because of the environmental dangers associated with producing it. Unlike most drugs, which have to be imported into a region, Methamphetamine can be manufactured in a home operation or mobile lab using regular household chemicals purchased from pharmacies and hardware stores.

The danger is that the individuals processing the chemical components used in making Methamphetamine are not skilled chemists, thus creating a highly potential situation for explosion and contamination during the manufacturing process. Toxic gas leaks, chemical fires and explosions often occur, putting the entire community at risk. Contaminated ground resulting from a Methamphetamine lab is considered so dangerous that it is treated as bio-hazardous waste scene.

Already this year, the Michigan State Police has responded to 65 Methamphetamine labs across the state. Two recent fires in West Michigan are examples of how dangerous producing Methamphetamine can be.

On March 16, 2003, the MSP Methamphetamine Investigation Team responded to a call from the Grand Haven Fire Department regarding a warehouse fire in Grand Haven Township in Ottawa County. While fighting the structure fire, firefighters observed what they believed to be components related to Methamphetamine production. The Methamphetamine Investigation Team confirmed that there were components inside the charred building consistent with the production of Methamphetamine. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The following day, the Otsego Fire Department responded to a fully involved structure fire in Otsego Township in Allegan County. Upon arrival at the scene, firefighters found a single-family manufactured home fully engulfed in flames. While looking for the cause and origin of the fire, several suspicious containers were discovered in the kitchen. The containers were examined and found to be consistent with chemical containers used in the manufacture of Methamphetamine.

Members of the Methamphetamine Investigation Team assigned to the West Michigan Enforcement Team (WEMET) contacted the State Police Fire Marshal Division to determine the cause of the fire. The preliminary finding of the Fire Marshal Division is that the fire was started as result of a mishap in a Methamphetamine lab in the kitchen of the home.

The homeowner was taken to Pipp Hospital with burns to his face, hands, arms and chest, and was later transported to Bronson Hospital. The homeowner’s wife and child, who were at home at the time, escaped without injury. WEMET is continuing the investigation.

The Michigan State Police urge anyone who knows someone cooking Methamphetamine or knows of a site being used to cook Methamphetamine to call 1-866-METH-TIP. Callers can remain anonymous.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

D/Lt. Tony Saucedo, Methamphetamine Investigation Team, (517) 336-2657