State Representative
Bob Ness

ST. PAUL -- One of the strengths of rural Minnesota - agriculture - is inadvertently attracting a growing trend in methamphetamine production. Representative Bob Ness (R-Dassel) is encouraging rural residents to keep their eyes open for signals pointing to meth labs encroaching on the area. "Every day we read another article about anhydrous ammonia theft somewhere in the state. Drugs are an increasing part of our culture and really diminish the quality of life," said Ness.

Meth, which is also referred to as "ice", "speed" or "crank", is a synthetic stimulant whose list of ingredients includes anhydrous ammonia, a product utilized to improve the nitrogen levels in the fields of many farmers. Many of the drug's other ingredients are easily purchased at neighborhood stores: rubbing alcohol, cold medicine, drain cleaners, rat poison, salt, lithium batteries and other normally harmless household items.

Meth labs are proliferating in many rural states which have good transportation infrastructure and ready access to fertilizer. Often individuals can set up a lab in a matter of hours on an abandoned farm site and quickly move out if conditions change. "This problem is no stranger to our area with arrests and confiscation of labs and equipment," noted Ness.

In addition to the concern of growing drug use, production of meth also creates a hazzard for the general public. Meth production labs have been called "mini toxic waste dumps" because of the large amount of waste product created. This waste is especially toxic and is often disposed of improperly.

Also, the anhydrous ammonia is typically obtained through theft which often results in leaks of the chemical from farmers' or chemical dealers' tanks. Anhydrous ammonia is considered highly toxic and can burn lungs simply by breathing it in; and can cause disfiguring or fatal burns upon contact with your skin. Federal and state drug control officers also have concerns about toxic ammonia clouds endangering farmers and neighborhoods within the area.

In order to combat this growing danger, last session the Minnesota Legislature updated the law to make stealing, tampering with or improperly transporting anhydrous ammonia a felony. The maximum penalty for offences is five years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

One of the most effective tools for controlling the proliferation of meth labs in rural Minnesota is the watchful eyes of residents. "No one knows your rural area better than you," said Ness. If you notice an abandoned farm site that suddenly has traffic in the driveway or lights on at night, notify your local sheriff's office. Don't check it out yourself as the chemicals and individuals involved in meth labs are extremely dangerous. If you think tanks on your farm have been tampered with, notify the sheriff as well as your chemical dealer.

Retailers can also be watchful by training their employees to watch for and report unusual sales in the individual ingredients of meth.

These criminals are choosing to operate in rural Minnesota because they think it is easy to hide and their supplies are close at hand. We can combat this menace by watching our farms and our check-out counters. "I'm afraid this is an all to common experience and people should be aware in order to help law enforcement find and arrest these perpetrators," said Ness.

If you have further questions about meth labs, feel free to contact the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at (651)642-0610 or me at Rep. Bob Ness, 509 State Office Building, 100 Constitution Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55155 or call (651)296-4344.

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