State Cracking Down on Meth Labs (Connecticut)

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Meth Lab Crackdown in CT


Now an update on an i-team investigation. The ball is rolling in the meth lab crackdown in Connecticut. And the battle is going beyond specialized training in protective suits.

State authorities are using the world of computers, and it's all to make sure the explosive danger doesn't get out of control.

Connecticut police don't have a lot of experience when it comes to busting meth labs because the state has only seen a handful over the past few years. Now, police can learn more about the deadly drug and the people cooking it just by jumping on the computer and checking out a database maintained by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

Every time police raid a meth lab they can find poisonous chemicals, and armed meth cooks. Since the late 90's police have been logging their finds in a national DEA meth database. Which Connecticut police will now tap into.

"That's an extremely important part of narcotics investigations -- the sharing of intelligence and information," said State Police Sgt. J. Paul Vance.

Vance says, by order of Governor Rell, police who bust meth labs here must pass along every detail to state police who enter it into that federal meth database. A resource that they can turn around and use.

The database contains information from nearly every state about what labs look like and how much meth they produce.

In 2005, 11 people were injured in meth labs and 2 people were killed. And over the past 5 years, police have found many children at labs they've raided.

Today, House Republicans said they want to make it as difficult as possible for people to buy meth's main ingredients: the stimulants ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are found in over the counter cold pills.

House Minority Leader Bob Ward wants to track large purchases of cold pills and increase penalties for people who buy, sell, and cook meth.

"It is a growing crisis and we want to take action before it gets worse in Connecticut than it is now," Ward said.

Governor Rell wants to see stiffer penalties. She is also urging people to call the state's 211 information line if they need drug treatment.