Tulsa World: Warrants served in Payne Co. for meth ingredient violations

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Warrants served in Payne Co. for meth ingredient violations

By AMANDA O'TOOLE World Correspondent
Published: 11/17/2009 12:00 PM
Last Modified: 11/17/2009 5:33 PM

Meth Labs in Tulsa: View a map that depicts where Tulsa Police have discovered meth labs since January 2008.

STILLWATER — Dozens of law enforcement officers from several agencies arrested at least 34 people Monday and Tuesday in Payne County during a methamphetamine ingredient roundup.

Arrest warrants were issued for 64 people suspected of regularly buying well beyond the legal limit for pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient used to make methamphetamine, said Tom McConaughy, an investigator for the Stillwater Police Department who led the roundup.

While none of the people arrested ran from authorities, a helicopter could be seen flying over Stillwater on Tuesday morning.

“It was flying low and loud,” McConaughy said. “Typically when people see that, they know if they’re going to run, they’re going to get caught.”

Oklahoma state law limits people to 9 grams of pseudoephedrine each month without a prescription. Bulk boxes of generic pseudoephedrine contain fewer than 3 grams, McConaughy said.

“Some defendants were buying twice as much or even more,” he said. “They were going to multiple locations on same day, multiple days in a row or had a criminal history. These were indicators to us that there was something going on.”

Local pharmacies were instrumental in the roundup, providing tips to Stillwater police about people buying more than the legal limit of pills, said Mark Woodward, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

“This sends a message that if people are trying to buy more pseudoephedrine than the state allows, we will come after them,” he said.

Most of those arrested will be charged with misdemeanors for buying more than the legal limit of pseudoephedrine, authorities said.

Police also found at least three operating meth labs, which may result in more severe charges for some, including intent to manufacture, Woodward said. One person is also expected to be charged for being a felon in possession of a gun.

At least six of the people included in the 64 warrants were already in jail Monday on non-related charges, McConaghy said.

“It’s a mixed feeling,” he said of the sweep. “I’m very happy to see we were successful in bringing people in and eliminating people in the community manufacturing. It’s also a little bit disconcerting that the meth problem has grown to this level.”

While the OBN estimates that the number of meth labs have declined over the past few years, Woodward said the new “shake and bake” manufacturing method has been on the rise.

By AMANDA O'TOOLE World Correspondent

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Roundup nets 30-plus arrests for meth-ingredient violations," which was published on 11/18/2009. So far, 20 comments have been made.