DEA Trains Over 200 About Methamphetamine Clandestine Labs

APR 12 -- (NEW YORK, NY) John P. Gilbride, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in New York announced that DEA trained over 200 law enforcement officers in Westchester County about the dangers of Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratories.

On April 11, 2007 two hundred “first responders” from area police departments, fire departments, ambulance corps, health and social services agencies, parole, probation, mental health agencies, and environmental agencies attended the program which was designed to provide training on identifying clandestine methamphetamine laboratories, the dangers they pose to our communities and the most effective response when a laboratory is discovered by a private citizen or a member of law enforcement. In addition to providing law enforcement officers with investigative training, the conference highlighted the public safety risks associated with clandestine labs illegally manufacturing methamphetamine.

Participants from Westchester, Dutchess, Orange and Putnam Counties were brought up to date on illegal drug manufacturing industry trends that included popular laboratory locations, chemicals used in the manufacturing process and equipment used to set up and run clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. DEA Special Agent Scott Adams provided the training. SA Adams is also the Clandestine Laboratory Coordinator for New York State.

DEA Special Agent in Charge John P. Gilbride stated, “DEA offers this training to ensure the safety of our law enforcement partners. With Clandestine Labs increasingly emerging in New York State, it is our goal to educate our peers and communities about the dangers of clandestine labs and methamphetamine.” SAC Gilbride commended the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for hosting this training at the Westchester County Center.