Meth labs still exist in our neighborhood, barely

This is an excerpt from the crime prevention e-newsletter I receive. One perk from being a neighborhood watch coordinator. The bold text I found particularly interesting. I have heard the legislation requiring prescriptions for pseudoephedrine (as annoying as it is for most folks) was effective in nearly eliminating production in Portland, but that the labs just moved to Mexico where they produced even stronger product. Great to have the labs gone, too bad demand is high enough to create a whole new production/distribution structure.

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2. Methamphetamine Lab Bust in Southeast Portland
From Multnomah County Sheriff’s Information Office:
At 12:30PM on 11/29/07, the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Unit seized a large methamphetamine manufacturing lab as a result of a search warrant service at 3622 SE 49th in Portland. The search warrant was obtained as a result of an ongoing investigation that the MCSO SIU team had been conducting, regarding distribution and possession of methamphetamine. The Multnomah County Drug Lab Response Team was called in to mitigate the hazards associated with the lab and process the lab evidence for prosecution.
At the residence they discovered an amount of finished methamphetamine, 35 lbs of elemental iodine (essential methamphetamine manufacturing chemical), 6 lbs of red phosphorous (essential methamphetamine manufacturing chemical), a large quantity of other meth manufacturing chemicals, a 38 caliber pistol, 22 caliber rifle with silencer and a 22 caliber pistol with a silencer.
Deputies arrested the resident, Berardinelli, Ted Wayne (6/16/52) on the following charges:
1. Manufacturing a controlled substance (meth) w/in 1000 feet of a school.
2. Distribution of a controlled substance (meth) w/in 1000 feet of a school.
3. Possession of a controlled substance (meth).
4. Three counts of ex-con in possession of a firearm.
5. Two counts of unlawful possession of silencers.
Berardinelli has been lodged in the Multnomah County Detention Center on the listed charges.
Although this is only the third meth lab the Multnomah County Drug Lab Response Team has processed this year (prior to current pseudoephedrine legislation we processed 40 to 60 per year) this event demonstrates that some meth labs still exist in the community and citizens still should be diligent regarding behavior associated with such activity.
Contact Info:
Lt. Jason Gates
Acting Public Information Officer
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office
Office: 503-251-2451

Enjoy your lab-free neighborhoods,

Bp