Illegal methamphetamine (meth) production affects communities throughout the United States and is particularly acute in agricultural and rural areas of the country. For many years, so-called “meth cooks” have flourished in these regions, as they could easily steal a key ingredient needed to produce the drug- anhydrous ammonia.
Anhydrous ammonia is commonly used for fertilizer on farms, and is generally stored in mobile tanks containing 400 to 1,000 gallons of the chemical. Recipes for homemade meth are readily available on the Internet, and individuals can steal the required anhydrous ammonia from farm storage tanks and then purchase other ingredients (to include cold medicine and lithium batteries) from stores. Homemade meth produces a more intense high than drugs that are imported from other areas, such as Mexico, and by buying from local sources, addicts can avoid dealing with more violent big-time dealers.
While illegal methamphetamine production is an ongoing problem in the US, authorities have had some success against rural “meth cooks” in recent years, due largely to new technology, restrictions on the sale of certain medicines and chemicals, and increased law enforcement. However, significant problems remain, and will likely continue to plague communities across the US in the future.
“Meth Cooks” Target Farm
With thousands of acres of farmland in many rural areas, “meth cooks” are presented with a wide range of targets to steal the anhydrous ammonia necessary for production. Frequently, the tanks containing the chemical are kept in fields or in nearby storage sheds that are vulnerable to theft. Thieves are often able to release the chemical from these tanks by turning a value, and then collect the liquid in containers like gas cans or milk jugs.
In many instances, farmers were unaware that any anhydrous ammonia was stolen from their property, as the “meth cooks” take only a few gallons at a time from tanks containing hundreds of gallons. These farms are appealing targets for individuals as anhydrous ammonia is at least US$100 a gallon on the black market. Additionally, for every gallon that a “meth cook” steals from a farm, they can use the chemical to produce meth that is valued between US$3,000 and US$5,000.
These thefts can cost farmers thousands of dollars due to vandalism and other damage to the tanks. According to statistics from local officials in Indiana in 2004, costs connected to the theft of anhydrous ammonia exceed US$5 million a year.
Dangers of Illegal Meth Production
States require a license to purchase anhydrous ammonia, as the chemical can be dangerous to human health. When liquid anhydrous ammonia is released into ambient air, it expands up to 800 times its original volume and forms large vapor clouds that act as a dense gas. This gas can travel along the ground (instead of immediately dispersing into the air), increasing the risk of exposure to humans. Additionally, improper handling of anhydrous ammonia can result in explosions, and harm not only “meth cooks” but also emergency responders and the general public.
• In April 2004, approximately 1,500 pounds of anhydrous ammonia was released into the air during an attempted theft at a facility in Washington. The thief sustained chemical burns to his body, and a responding firefighter was also injured. Nearby businesses and residences were evacuated in order to protect the public from exposure.
Moreover, the number of “rolling meth labs,” or labs inside tractor-trailers, trucks, and cars, has increased over the past several years, as “meth cooks” attempt to avoid detection. Anhydrous ammonia, as well as about half of the 2,000 chemicals that can be used to make meth, are explosive, and thus these traveling labs pose a significant threat to the public.
• In November 2001, a “rolling meth lab” in Kentucky carrying anhydrous ammonia exploded while traveling on Interstate 24.
• In April 2002, students and staff were evacuated from an elementary school in Indiana after authorities stopped a pickup truck belonging to a suspected “meth cook.” Anhydrous ammonia was located in the vehicle.
Steps to Combat Illegal Production
US authorities and chemists have succeeded in developing new technologies and implementing procedures to prevent “meth cooks” from stealing anhydrous ammonia.
• In several states, local authorities have implemented projects and/or legislation providing local farms with locks for tanks of anhydrous ammonia. Additionally, many farmers have increased security levels on their property, installing alarms, surveillance cameras, and other fencing to deter thefts.
• Officials have identified a new additive, calcium nitrate, which if injected into anhydrous ammonia reduces the meth yield from about 40 percent to less than 2 percent.
• Another additive, GloTell, stains anything that it touches with a pink color. The color is visible for 72 hours and can be viewed for an additional 48 hours with ultraviolet light.
The Challenges Ahead
According to statistics released in July 2007 by the Drug Enforcement Administration, meth labs in rural communities across the US have deceased in the past several years due to these measures and other restrictions on medicine and chemicals used in production. Yet, these labs produced only 20 percent of the country’s meth supply, with the rest imported, mainly from Mexico and Canada. The new statistics also indicate that the number of meth users has not dropped, and thereby still poses a significant problem to communities. According to a survey of local law enforcement agencies, 70 percent of those surveyed indicated that meth is contributing to increases in crimes, such as robbery.
While the new technologies and measures may assist in protecting farms from theft, they will not prevent the trading of illegal meth. Authorities remain particularly concerned over the import of the drug from other areas. Moreover, there are several recipes for producing meth, which do not require the use of anhydrous ammonia. It is likely that “meth cooks” will instead turn to these methods to ensure that they are able to produce adequate amounts of the drug.
