How to Spot a Home Meth Lab and What to Do About it

Methamphetamine, a drug that acts as a central nervous system stimulant, is highly addictive and can be lethal. Meth is said to be even more addictive than cocaine and far more dangerous. A pound of meth is equal to approximately six pounds of hazardous waste and requires full Haz-Mat suits to remove it from the place of business.

Supplies needed to make meth are found at your local stores such as coffee filters, paper towels, iodine, drain cleaner, measuring cups, glass jars, and turkey basters. Since the supplies don’t have to be specially ordered it makes it much easier to run a meth lab without being noticed by suppliers.

Most meth labs are in rural areas where they won’t attract as much attention. The labs are known to explode on occasion and kill others and spread toxic fumes for miles. Police are working diligently to locate and shut down the labs but many hundreds of the labs go unnoticed.

Common places for meth labs are abandoned poultry houses, metal storage sheds, tobacco barns, mobile homes and abandoned houses. The labs can also be traveling labs, set up in campers, large trucks or even cars.

There are signs to look for if you suspect someone may be running a meth lab close to your own home. One sign is the horrible odor of rotten eggs, ammonia or cat urine. Cooking meth produces a terrible odor which depends upon the particular ingredients used.

Makers of meth sell to dealers who then sell to customers. Look for heavy traffic after dark. This is a sign that meth is being made and dispersed to dealers. Also, meth-making produces tremendous amounts of trash that is often burned outdoors.

Windows that are always blackened, without curtains that occasionally open and shut, could be another sign of a meth lab. The windows are kept where no one can look in and see something that shouldn’t be seen.

Some things that are often staples of meth lab owners are lots of glass containers, bottles with hoses, batteries, or propane tanks. Often the tanks are corroded and may have tape wrapped around the valves.

Lots of home owners have major security but rundown places with excessive security, like cameras, dogs and alarms, could be protecting something illegal. Your state can use your help when it comes to breaking up meth labs but never put yourself in a dangerous position. If you suspect someone is running a meth lab near you call the authorities and let them investigate. Drug dealers are often ruthless people who will do anything – even kill – to protect their business.