MADISON COUNTY — Meth making is on the rise in Madison County and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office says they’re seeing more people using dangerous makeshift labs to quickly produce the substance.
Since the beginning of the year, deputies have already had two meth lab busts and they’re still investigating more.
“It’s one thing after another with law enforcement. You try and keep up with it, but we’re always a step behind in fighting crime because the laws don’t keep up with the way things are,” says Sheriff Allen Riley.
Sheriff Riley says they’re seeing more home meth labs mainly in rural parts of Madison County where people are actually cooking the meth with household items.
The recent spike of meth in the county has to do with more people using cheap materials to cook the drug. The people producing the product are using what’s called the “one-pot method”, which uses a soda bottle to mix the chemicals, which Sheriff Riley says is extremely dangerous.
“The bottle can explode. And, cause dangerous fires and stuff like that. The one pot method, you can make it mobile, you can cook it while you’re in the car, I’ve heard stories where people actually cooked it while they’re in stores, shopping,” says Sheriff Riley.
Recently, the Sheriff’s Department added two new officers so they can crack down on this widespread problem.
In the meantime, they’re also reminding the public to do their part. They’re urging everyone to be lookout for these one pot method containers and any strange odors.
“Those are things you need to look for. You don’t need to go near them, just give us a call and we’ll go check it out. Because like I said you go across the one that’s still cooking and it could explode,” says Sheriff Riley.
Since 2014, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office has received $130,000 in funding to help fight against the growing meth problem.
The money allowed Sheriff’s deputies to increase patrols and add one and half deputy positions. The county board is currently considering another proposal aimed at drug enforcement that would add 10 deputies over the next 3 years.
http://cnycentral.com/news/local/homemade-meth-a-growing-problem-in-madison-county
