METH-LABS

INTRODUCTION

Around 200 meth-labs are found in New Zealand each year. They have been found at a wide-range of places including private addresses, rental properties, vehicles, motels, workplaces, storage units and public places. New Zealand's 1000th meth-lab was discovered in February 2006.

Meth-labs pose a wide range of dangers. These include...

• Fire.
• Explosions.
• Chemical hazards, including burns and poisoning.
• Booby traps.
• Building contamination.
• Environmental damage.

New Zealand's first meth-lab fatality occurred in May 2007 when a 33-year-old man died from burns from a P-Lab explosion at Te Hana, north of Wellsford. Several people have been seriously injured in meth-lab fires and explosions.

Do not enter a site that you think is being used to make meth.

SIGNS OF A METH-LAB

• Unusual strong odours (like cat urine, ether, ammonia, acetone (nail-polish remover) or other chemicals).
• Extractor fans.
• Covering or blacking-out of windows.
• Water running for lengthy periods.
• Surveillance systems, such as closed-circuit cameras.
• Lookouts keeping watch.
• People going outside to smoke.
• Paranoid, secretive or odd behaviour.
• Unfriendly occupants.
• Access denied to landlords, neighbours and other visitors.
• Unusual traffic patterns, such as excessive night traffic or large numbers of visitors with short stays.
• Chemical staining on walls and floors.
• Laboratory glassware, equipment and documents.
• Containers with clear liquids in them with a chalky coloured solid (or similar) on the bottom.
• Containers with two layers of liquids in them. (One layer is often dark and the other clear or pale yellow).
• Used coffee filters containing either a white or reddish brown substance.
• Baking dishes, or similar, containing a white crystalline substance.
• Bottles or containers with rubber tubing or pipes attached.
• Presence of chemical drums or containers.
• Discarded packaging.

COMMON EQUIPMENT

• Round bottom reaction flask.
• Condenser.
• Heat source-mantle or burner.
• Filtering equipment - funnels, flasks, vacuum pumps, suction devices.
• Separating funnels.

1. A recipe book.
2. A three-necked round-bottom reaction flask.
3. A separating funnel.
4. A Buchner flask with funnel.
5. A heating mantle.
6. A Parr-Bomb. These are used instead of a reaction flask.
7. A reflux condenser.
8. A pseudoephedrine extraction. A solvent is added to crushed pseudoephedrine pills, causing the pseudoephedrine to sink to the bottom. It is then extracted, dried, and made into methamphetamine.
9. Discarded pseudoephedrine pill packets.

COMMON CHEMICALS

There are a large number of methods used to manufacture meth. The three most common New Zealand methods involve phosphorus, iodine and pseudoephedrine.

Common meth-lab chemicals can include...

• Acetone. (Solvent)
• Methanol / Alcohol.(Isopropyl or Rubbing)
• Toluene. (Paint thinner or brake cleaner)
• Diethyl-Ether. (Engine Starter)
• Sulphuric Acid. (Battery Acid)
• Hydrochloric Acid. (Spirits of Salt)
• Salt. (Table/rock)
• Lithium. (Batteries)
• Anhydrous Ammonia. (Farm Fertilizer)
• Sodium hydroxide. (Caustic soda)
• Red Phosphorus. (Matches/Road Flares)
• Iodine.
• Formamide.
• Sodium Acetate.
• Hypophosphorous Acid.
• Hydriodic Acid.
• Formic Acid.
• Phenylacetic Acid.

IF YOU FIND A METH-LAB...

• Get out immediately.
• Don't touch anything. Leave things exactly as they are. Don't turn anything off or on. Don't open anything.
• Move a safe distance away from the lab - the further the better.
• Call the Police once you are safely away from the lab.

IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT A POSSIBLE METH-LAB PHONE THE POLICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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