Missouri remains No. 1 for meth lab seizures

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Raids on methamphetamine labs continued to increase in Missouri last year, and the state continued to be a clear No. 1 in the country in meth lab seizures, according to a report released Friday by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Lab seizures increased 4 percent in 2003 from the previous year, to a total of 2,860. Iowa, which had the second-most lab incidents, had less than half that amount. Last year was the third year in a row Missouri led the nation.

Missouri and its eight neighboring states make up 54 percent of the total number of meth lab incidents in the country last year, the report showed.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive illegal stimulant that is cheap to produce. The drug is made from legal and easily purchased materials such as ether, match tips and pseudoephedrine, an ingredient found in many cold medicines.

The greatest number of meth lab seizures came in Jefferson County, where there were 161 last year. Jasper and Franklin counties also had more than 100 meth lab seizures last year. Two counties -- Barton and Harrison -- had none.

Curbing production of meth is a popular goal of politicians, who have drawn attention to the issue in recent months.

Police say the increase in the seizures of meth labs proves that law enforcement is getting better at getting the drug off the streets. But the report shows that even with the tough laws, production and use of the drug continues to increase.

Planning policies

Gov. Bob Holden wants to see better meth treatment and prevention efforts, while Attorney General Jay Nixon wants tougher penalties and a prison especially for meth offenders. Earlier this month, more than half the state's sheriffs signed a harshly worded letter to Holden demanding more money to fight meth production.

Last year, legislators passed a law limiting the amount of pseudoephedrine a customer can buy and also restricting the placement of pseudoephedrine in pharmacies, hoping to cut down on theft of the drug.