Last Updated on June 9, 2012 10:22 am
*Information provided by Avery County Sheriff Kevin Frye*
Last year was the highest number of meth labs discovered in Avery County since records of meth labs have been compiled by the State Bureau of Investigation. Last year 6 meth labs were discovered in Avery County beating the previous record of 5 in 2004.
Counties all across North Carolina saw a significant decrease of meth labs after Pseudoephedrine, the principle ingredient was placed behind pharmacy counters and required identification in order to purchase in 2006. The decrease did not last long however and in late 2010 and in 2011, a new method of making meth has became popular.
“Shake and Bake” or the “One Pot” method as it is often called has spiked meth lab arrests statewide. This method is no less dangerous than the old method, but it is quicker, more portable and more concealable making law enforcement’s job to find these labs much harder. As of June 4th, 2012, Avery County has already busted up 5 meth labs, and if this trend continues we will come close to double digit meth labs for the first time ever.
To put this in perspective in 2011 there were only 8 counties with double digit meth labs found in the entire state. The meth addicts have also found away around the log sheets at local pharmacies and this sometimes even involves unsuspecting participants. This is called “smurfing” where several people go to different pharmacies to buy the pseudoephedrine. They even will sit in the parking lots of pharmacies and try to trick or deceive good citizens into going into the pharmacy and purchasing the pseudoephedrine, acting as if they are too sick to go in or even using their own children as an excuse to not go in, to perpetrate this scam.
The Avery Sheriff/Municipal Drug Task force wants any citizen approached to buy pseudoephedrine at a pharmacy to please notify authorities immediately. Also if any citizen finds a bottle with a white chalky substance to not pick up the bottle, typically a 2 liter bottle, and notify authorities immediately. “I just want the citizens to know, Sheriffs from all across the state are working on this and other problems diligently and with great effort to protect our citizens and stop this from becoming the next drug epidemic.
We meet with our elected legislators, and they too are working hard to draft laws which help us help you” Sheriff Kevin Frye added.
Meth Labs in Avery County
2001…………………………………0
2002…………………………………2
2003…………………………………4
2004…………………………………5
2005…………………………………3
2006…………………………………0
2007…………………………………2
2008…………………………………0
2009…………………………………1
2010…………………………………1
2011…………………………………6
06/04/2012…………………………..5
