Indiana DEA meth investigation leads to 34 arrests

July 1, 2008 By Meth Lab Homes Leave a Comment

Police discovered 3 meth labs, over 45 guns, over 5,000 rounds of ammunition in Indiana in June and arrested 34 individuals who are facing 65 federal indictments. The indictments include allegations that the suspects conspired to distribute 500 grams of more of meth between January 2004 and June 2008.

The 65 count indictment also includes one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, two counts of maintaining a place for the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine, multiple counts of distribution of, and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, marijuana and numerous related narcotics counts. Most of the defendants were arrested in the Northern District of Indiana, Missouri and Colorado and they have already made their initial appearances before a United States Magistrate Judge in Hammond.

“The discovery and takedown of these meth labs is serious business,” stated Gary G. Olenkiewicz, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Chicago Field Division which covers Indiana. “The dangerous and toxic chemicals used to produce meth put the environment and our communities at risk. The cooperative law enforcement efforts during this investigation has made Northern Indiana a safer place.”

The meth ring discovery came as a result of a cooperative effort between the DEA Merrillville Office, who directed the operation and the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Indiana in Hammond, the Porter County Sheriff’s Office, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the Valparaiso Police Department, the Kouts Police Department and the Porter County Prosecutor’s Office.

For more information, please visit the DEA website.

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Quotes

"The last couple of years, the trend for methamphetamine labs in Virginia has doubled." ~ James Gregorius, DEA's assistant special agent for Virginia

"In the state of Missouri right now, a box of pseudoephedrine is sold every 16 seconds, you cannot tell me there is that many sick people in the state of Missouri." ~ Jason Grellner, President of the Missouri Narcotics Association and Unit Commander of the Franklin County Narcotics Unit

"Every day that goes before our state legislature can meet to decide whether or not to require a prescription to purchase these drugs means the threat of rolling meth labs being driven around our neighborhood streets, not to mention children going to bed with highly-volatile explosives in their homes."~ Rick Davis, Evansville Indiana mayoral candidate

"Do we want to invest in ensuring that we have healthy brains and we're providing health care for mental illness and addiction, both of which are diseases? Or do we want to incarcerate people for having diseases of the brain, particularly talking about nonviolent offenders, knowing that is by far more expensive, knowing that is far less effective than providing treatment in the first place." ~ Teri White, Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

"Chemical residues and lab wastes that are left behind at a former meth lab can have similar health problems for people who use the property. Unsuspecting people can touch residues of meth and have symptoms similar to those experienced by meth users. At a minimum, all people entering a building or an area that was a former meth lab should wear protective eye, hand and foot covering. Disposable gloves (e.g. latex or nitrile) and a disposable protective jumpsuit (e.g. Tyvek) are recommended. If toxic fumes or vapors are suspected, only trained professionals should enter and clean the building with appropriate safety equipment.". ~ Wyoming Department of Health

"Anytime you have these methamphetamine labs, they are, for lack of a better term, miniature bombs.They are highly explosive and the exposure alone, just with the chemicals present, can cause serious illness or death." Chris Cohron, Warren County KY Commonwealth Attorney

“The suits protect us from the chemicals. It’s all toxic, and we have to treat it like toxic waste.” ~ Sgt. Jackie Smith, Houston County Sheriff’s Narcotics supervisor

“(Methamphetamine use and manufacture) has exploded in monstrous proportions here and throughout the state. It’s time to get something done about this.” ~ Michigan State Rep. Matt Lori, R-Constantine

"We have seen a huge, huge decline in meth crimes and labs” since enactment of the prescription-only law ~ Ryan Harper, a pharmacist in Brandon Mississippi, population 50,000.

"Exposure to low levels of some meth ingredients may may produce headache, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue; exposure to high levels can produce shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, dizziness, lack of coordination, eye and tissue irritation, chemical burns (to the skin, eyes, mouth, and nose), and death. Corrosive substances may cause injury through inhalation or contact with the skin. Solvents can irritate the skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract and affect the central nervous system. Chronic exposure to the chemicals typically used in meth manufacture may cause cancer; damage the brain, liver, kidney, spleen, and immunologic system; and result in birth defects. Normal cleaning will not remove methamphetamine and some of the chemicals used to produce it. They may remain on eating and cooking utensils, floors, countertops, and absorbent materials. Toxic byproducts of meth manufacturing are often improperly disposed outdoors, endangering children and others who live, eat, play, or walk at or near the site." ~John Martyny, Associate Professor and industrial hygienist at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center

"We’ve seen an alarming and a troubling increase across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions over the past year in the incidents of addiction, violence and tragedy that are the by-products of rampant methamphetamine production and use. The officers of the Southern Tier Methamphetamine Task Force continue to do outstanding work to protect our communities and I’m hopeful that these tougher new laws will help in the prosecution and punishment of meth crimes. We can’t sit back and allow our region or anywhere else in New York State to serve as a safe harbor for meth labs, meth addicts or meth pushers. The risks are too great and the consequences too overwhelming for the safety of our neighborhoods, our police officers and our first responders, to say nothing of local systems of health care, criminal justice and social services.” ~ NY State Senator Thomas F. O'Mara, (R, C) 53rd Senate District"