With respect to agency activities related to methamphetamine, the various activities of
the federal government include:
Drug Enforcement Administration
I am joined today by a senior official from the Drug Enforcement Administration. In
order to avoid overlapping with his testimony, I will be brief with respect to the DEA’s role in
attacking the methamphetamine problem. In summarizing the Federal government’s efforts to
stem the spread of methamphetamine, however, I would note that the DEA is the lead agency in
our drug enforcement efforts to investigate, dismantle, and apprehend for prosecution the
members of drug trafficking organizations trafficking in methamphetamine.
The DEA’s role is multifaceted with respect to methamphetamine: in addition to the
identification and investigation of methamphetamine manufacturers and trafficking
organizations, DEA plays an important role in providing support to state and local agencies
regarding investigations, hazardous waste removal, prevention, public awareness, and training.
Additionally, DEA regulates various chemicals such as iodine, phosphorous and iodine tincture
that are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Methamphetamine Prosecutions and OCDETF
Following up an investigation and arrest with the prosecution and sentencing of
methamphetamine manufacturers and traffickers is a key part of our National Drug Control
Strategy. Generally, the 93 United States Attorneys and their Assistant United States Attorneys
have the responsibility of providing this follow-through on methamphetamine prosecutions. In
FY 2002, there were 2,171 federal cases filed related to methamphetamine, against a total of
4,208 defendants. In addition, there were approximately 100 major methamphetamine lab cases
filed. Together, these constituted 12% of all federal drug cases filed in the United States in that
year.
Within the context of major drug prosecutions, the Department of Justice’s OCDETF
program provides a framework for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to work
together to target well-established and complex organizations that direct, finance, or engage in
illegal narcotics trafficking and related crimes. For FY 2004, the Administration has proposed
an increase of $72 million over the previous fiscal year’s requested level for the OCDETF
program.
With respect to OCDETF-led activity in FY 2002, preliminary reports – and they are still
coming in—indicate that there were at least 36 methamphetamine organizations disrupted (6%,
responsible for about 1,969 kilograms of methamphetamine each year) and at least 66
methamphetamine organizations dismantled (11%, responsible for about 7,332 kilograms of
methamphetamine each year). So far in FY 2003, the government has initiated 128 new
OCDETF investigations against methamphetamine organizations—approximately 26% of all
OCDETF investigations. Additionally, there are nine new cases in FY 2003 (nearly 2% of
investigations) involving precursor chemicals. The Great Lakes and West Central OCDETF
regions have recently developed methamphetamine strategies related to the goal of attacking
methamphetamine and poly-drug networks.
Methamphetamine at the Border
Agencies with responsibilities for protecting our borders continue to see the influx of
methamphetamine into our nation. The seizure statistics on the preceding page shows all federal
methamphetamine seizures and specify arrival zone and Southwest Border seizures from 1997 to
2002.
HIDTA
The HIDTA program was created in 1990 to focus law enforcement efforts on the
nation’s most serious drug trafficking threats. Each year, the 28 HIDTAs submit a variety of
drug trafficking initiatives for review and funding approval. As indicated at the beginning of my
testimony, methamphetamine is a serious threat in some regions (and hence for some HIDTAs),
but in other areas such as New England, the methamphetamine threat is negligible, and the
HIDTA focuses on other drugs. Regardless of the HIDTA, the program nationwide is refocusing
on the highest priority trafficking organizations—the wholesale distributors and command-andcontrol
targets.
In FY 2002, the HIDTA program approved 548 initiatives nationwide. Of these, 306
initiatives directly related to a specific drug or drugs (as opposed to, for example, money
laundering, intelligence, or law enforcement training). Of these 306 initiatives, some 158
initiatives were poly-drug—many involving methamphetamine. Of the remaining initiatives
approved for funding, 82 were focused solely or primarily on
methamphetamine—more than
were focused on any other single drug by itself.
A few examples of how the HIDTA program is responding to the methamphetamine
threat in America include:
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Midwest HIDTA. In CY 2002, Midwest HIDTA task forces seized 181,125 grams of
methamphetamine. Federal indictments for the six-state region totaled 2,141 (an increase
of 10%), with 1,122 being for methamphetamine violations. Also in CY 2002, 4,989
clandestine lab seizure incidents were reported to El Paso Intelligence Center through the
National Clan Lab Seizure System for the six states comprising the Midwest HIDTA, an
increase of 28% over CY 2001 incidents of 3,890.
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Central Valley HIDTA: In May of this year, agents from a Central Valley HIDTA
(California) task force responded to a reported methamphetamine laboratory fire in a
rural area of Madera County, California. Agents discovered evidence of laboratory
activity in the residence in front of the workshop: approximately six pounds of finished
methamphetamine that had been converted to “ice” crystals (worth up to $78,000), iodine
crystals, approximately twenty pounds of red phosphorous, and other chemicals used in
methamphetamine production. An assault rifle, two semi-automatic hand guns and a
microwave wireless surveillance system with a monitor and antenna were also found in
the house. Additionally, in July of this year, upon serving a search warrant in Goshen,
California, two Central Valley HIDTA task forces recovered twenty-five pounds of
methamphetamine. Two children were also removed from the residence and placed with
Child Protective Services. The methamphetamine seized from the residence, if diluted by
80%, would have represented about $4.5 million—a sizable profit for an investment of
less than $75,000.
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Hawaii HIDTA. A Hawaii HIDTA-led investigation identified members of an
organization operating in North Carolina, Utah, California, Hawaii, Tonga, Fiji, New
Zealand, and Australia. During late April 2002, a portion of the investigation culminated
with the execution of 47 arrest warrants, 30 search warrants, and 13 seizure warrants in
Utah, California, Hawaii, and Alaska. In addition, more than $700,000 in cash, three
pounds of cocaine, 10 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, several pieces of real
property, and 15 vehicles were seized.
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National Methamphetamine Chemical Initiative. HIDTA also funds the National
Methamphetamine Chemical Initiative (NMCI), and in FY 2002, provided over $500,000
in support. This initiative was established and is funded through the Southwest Border
HIDTA—California Partnership. The NMCI provides a comprehensive national
approach to stop the diversion of chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine
by improving support of chemical precursor investigations and coordinating
investigations; promoting information sharing and training among law enforcement,
prosecutors, judges, probation/parole, and family services; and providing updates on
current trends and methods of operation. The NMCI also supports Drug Endangered
Children (DEC) programs that I address below. NMCI has encouraged and funded DEC
training throughout the country, recently conducting classes in Missouri, Idaho, Arizona,
and Denver.
Cleaning Up the Aftermath: Toxic Lab Cleanup
The aftermath of a methamphetamine lab can last for years, and impacts the environment,
the health of persons near the manufacturing site, and the overall safety of the neighborhood.
The Community Oriented Policing (COPS) program is a key national resource in helping combat
the spread of methamphetamine and helping communities clean up toxic labs. Since 1998,
COPS has invested more than $223.5 million nationwide in methamphetamine-related initiatives.
The COPS office encourages agencies to focus on community policing approaches to
methamphetamine reduction and works with agencies to develop innovative strategies to track
and evaluate implementation and disseminate results to other communities confronting similar
challenges. Grant recipients are encouraged to develop partnerships with other agencies,
including the Environmental Protection Agency, fire departments, mental health and child
protection services, local businesses, and other local law enforcement, to combat the spread of
methamphetamine in their communities.
The COPS office supports various methamphetamine training initiatives, including
awareness training and clandestine lab enforcement training. For example, resources have been
dedicated to the California Department of Justice’s Western Regional Training Center, which
serves California and twelve surrounding states, to provide methamphetamine-related training to
law enforcement officers. COPS has also funded the California Methamphetamine Strategy for
continued efforts in combating the methamphetamine epidemic in California.
Additionally, funding through the COPS Methamphetamine initiative has supported DEA
efforts to provide awareness training to law enforcement, first responders, and community
members, as well as clandestine lab enforcement operations training to state and local law
enforcement professionals. Methamphetamine funding has also supported the DEA’s efforts to
improve the clandestine lab information gathering capabilities, carry out regional information
sharing conferences, and assist state and local law enforcement in the clean up of
methamphetamine lab sites.
In FY 2003, the COPS office will invest an additional $57 million to support anti-meth
strategies, much of it designated by Congress for initiatives in specified jurisdictions.
Drug-Endangered Children
The Department of Justice is reviewing methods of improving assistance to children
found at locations where drugs are used, kept, manufactured or sold, such as clandestine
methamphetamine lab sites. One model program, California’s Drug Endangered Children (DEC)
program, works to reduce the incidence of drug-related child endangerment and to meet the
needs of children and communities threatened by exposures to clandestine methamphetamine
labs. The program brings together and assists law enforcement response teams by providing
technical assistance, conducting trainings and workshops, developing educational resources, and
fostering interagency collaboration.
DOJ and ONDCP are committed to working together to review the effectiveness of these
programs and identify opportunities to support similar programs in other areas of the country.
The Methamphetamine Interagency Task Force has provided several recommendations to
improve interagency cooperation. The task force has suggested that jurisdictions take steps
including:
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Increase information sharing and promote multidisciplinary approaches and partnerships
among prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement agencies at the federal, state,
and local levels
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Expand collaborations among social services agencies and public health officials
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Conduct research on the hazards to which children found in methamphetamine labs are
exposed
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Develop protocols to support drug-endangered children that should generally address staff
training; roles and responsibilities of intervening agencies; appropriate reporting, cross
reporting, information sharing, and confidentiality; safety procedures for children, families,
and responding personnel; interviewing procedures; evidence collection and preservation
procedures; medical care procedures; and community resource development
Additionally, legal standards regarding drug-endangered children generally differ by
state. DOJ and ONDCP are working together to identify opportunities to work with state and
local legislatures to improve and update state laws regarding child endangerment and neglect.
Methamphetamine Production on Public Lands
Increasingly, methamphetamine producers are also using public lands, such as public
forests and national parks, for STLs. In 2002, approximately 348 methamphetamine laboratories
were discovered on public lands. Due to the seclusion from law enforcement, methamphetamine
producers not only produce the drug in these remote spaces, but also discard the dangerous byproducts
at crude dumpsites, contaminating the land, water, and natural beauty of the area.
Additionally, the toxic waste left behind at methamphetamine production sites poses a significant
risk to private citizens, employees, law enforcement personnel and the environment.
Law enforcement agencies at the Departments of Agriculture and Interior shoulder much
of the weight of responding to the threat of methamphetamine production on public lands. Led
by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a task force of relevant agencies meets
approximately every six weeks to review developing drug threats on or to our public lands and
recommends appropriate responses. Later this summer, ONDCP Director John Walters will lead
a public education campaign to highlight the problem of both marijuana cultivation and
methamphetamine production on public lands.
Drug Courts
For FY 2004, the Administration has proposed an increase in the Drug Courts program of
$23.3 million above the FY 2003 enacted level. By expanding the number of drug courts and
increasing retention in and successful completion of drug court programs by methamphetamine
users, this program will provide an alternative to incarceration by using the coercive power of the
court to force abstinence and alter behavior with a combination of escalating sanctions,
mandatory drug testing, treatment, and strong aftercare programs.
