Meth Ring Busts Shine Light On Continued Problem

Methamphetamine, meth, is a schedule II controlled substance. It is highly abused and has become an epidemic throughout the United States. Methamphetamine is a very strong central nervous system stimulant. (Image from Iowa DPS)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – It seems to be a battle that’s decades old, but what was old is new again. The battle to keep drugs, such as methamphetamine, off the streets is reaching a new level.

Some recent cases in both Keokuk and Mahaska Counties have once again put the spotlight on the problem. A recent year-long investigation netted ten arrests in Keokuk County. Those arrests included an Oskaloosa man amongst the individuals, who were from four different towns.

Recently, three search warrants were executed, resulting in five arrests. Those arrests also netted individuals from three different communities.

I sat down with Mahaska County Sheriff Paul DeGeest about the recent rise in meth related arrests and if there is a big problem. “Actually, there’s always been a big problem. We’ve seen a little bit of a lull in it over the last year or two,” DeGeest said.

“When the precursor laws came into effect, things slowed down a little bit,” DeGeest said, but says that individuals have been finding ways around the laws, such as enlisting others to help them buy the necessary ingredients. “So the guys that were cookin’ are back, basically, cookin’.”

DeGeest says that it’s a daunting task to keep on top of the problem. “It’s a lot of work, it takes a lot of hours,” DeGeest says about the time involved to follow up and investigate drug cases.

The amount of people involved with the recent arrests and search warrants speaks to the way drug enforcement has gone because of the amount of individuals helping to circumvent the precursor laws. The more individuals helping to buy ingredients, the more who are involved when law enforcement shows up.

The problem of battling drugs and the plight of methamphetamine has been a long battle for law enforcement, and many times it’s a discouraging one. “I hate to say this,” DeGeest says, “I personally think that every once in awhile you’ll see the police win a battle when it comes to meth, but as far as the war itself goes, it’s not a winnable situation right now. We do what we can do.”

The discouragement is understood, especially as new methods for the manufacture of the illegal drug continue to crop up. ‘Shake and bake’ is one of those methods, which can be more dangerous than the traditional meth lab.

The new methods of manufacturing meth, such as ‘Shake and Bake’ or ‘One Pot’ don’t require the same amount of pills, making the newly passed precursor laws less effective.

Many times, the drugs are made in plastic bottles while mobile, such as in a car or walking. The cook then disposes of the plastic bottles, usually still containing the dangerous brown and white slug-like residue, by littering ditches, highways and parks with them. If you find such a bottle, leave it alone and call law enforcement.

The dangerous cooking method can erupt into a fireball if not shaken correctly or if oxygen enters the bottle. The reaction could cause serious injury to the ‘cook’, many times while they are holding the bottle.

DeGeest says that financial gain as well as being able to support their own drug habit are reasons for a person to start manufacturing meth. “I don’t know that they are making big big bucks on it, but they are supporting their habit for nothing, basically.” DeGeest said.

“Don’t get me wrong, they are making money on it. They’re not living in $200,000 homes,” DeGeest says. “They’re buying some vehicles; maybe some nice televisions; some things they normally wouldn’t be able to afford.”

During their most recent search warrant executions, the Mahaska County Sheriff seized four vehicles as well as cash from the accused.

The process of seizing property starts with the notice of forfeiture, where it will then go onto a hearing. There it will be decided based upon such things as if the vehicles were used to transport drugs, “well, then that vehicle becomes a forfeitable item.” Other ways that items can be seized is if those items were purchased with the money raised from the sale of the illegal drugs.

Money raised from the sale of seized property doesn’t go back into the general fund, instead it is used to buy needed equipment and provide further training for officers.