From the Portland Police Bureau: Meth Lab Awareness Clues

 

Signs of a methamphetamine lab include large quantities of common household products. Used as directed, these household products are generally safe. Mixed together or used improperly, they can become explosive and produce toxic fumes. One of the first indicators of a meth lab is the storing of large amounts of household items such as the following.

These chemicals are commonly associated with meth labs:

 

Chemicals

Acetone

Alcohol (isopropyl or rubbing)

Anhydrous ammonia and ammonium sulfate (fertilizer)

Battery acid (sulfuric acid)

Bleach

Coleman fuel

Drain cleaner (sulfuric acid or caustic soda)

Drain openers such as Red Devil lye

Heet and Iso-Heet, gasoline additives (methanol/alcohol)

Hydrogen peroxide

Iodine (both crystal and liquid)

Lithium batteries

Matches (red phosphorous)

Mineral Spirits

Muriatic acid

Over the counter cold pills containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine

Salt (table or rock)

Sodium and Lithium metal

Starting Fluid (organic ether)

Toluene

Trichloroethane (gun cleaning solvent)

 

Equipment commonly associated with meth labs:

 

Equipment

Aluminum foil

Bed sheets

Blenders

Bottles; such as pop, water and milk bottles

Chemistry glassware

Camp stoves

Cheesecloth

Coffee filters

Cotton balls

Duct tape

Electric portable hot plates, single and double

Funnels

Garden spray jugs

Gas cans

Jugs

Paper towels

pH test strips

Plastic tubing

Pressure cookers

Propane tanks and thermos

Pyrex dishes

Rags

Rubber and latex gloves

Strainers

Swimming pool chemicals

Thermometers

Turkey basting wands

 

Unusual behavior by residential tenants / building occupants may be indicators of a meth lab:

 

    * Access denied to landlords, neighbors, and other visitors

    * Chemical staining on walls and floors

    * A multitude of expensive home items such as stereos with no visible means of support

    * Cash purchases and payments

    * Covering or blacking-out of windows

    * Security measures such as cameras or baby monitors outside of buildings

    * Guard dogs

    * Unusual traffic patterns, such as excessive night traffic or large numbers of visitors with short stays

    * Burn pits, stained soil or dead vegetation indicating dumped chemicals or waste from a meth lab

    * Abnormal chemical odors not normally associated with apartments, houses or buildings. These odors may be similar to sweet, bitter, ammonia or solvent smells.

    * Large amounts of household chemicals found in odd places such as:

          o Bathrooms

          o Kitchens

          o Laundry rooms

          o Motel rooms

 

Illegal dump sites and unauthorized dumpster use:

 

    * Waste cans or dumpsters emitting strong chemical odors

 

Trash or waste in pits or illegal dumps containing items such as:

 

Rags with red and/or yellow stains

Large number of pill blister packaging from over-the-counter cold, diet or allergy remedies

Empty containers from white gas, ether, starting fluids, lye or drain openers, paint thinner, acetone, or alcohol

Compressed gas cylinders, or camp stove (Coleman) fuel containers

Packaging from Epsom salts or rock salt

Propane tanks or coolers containing strong ammonia odors

Pyrex/glass/Corning containers, with dried chemical deposits remaining

Bottles or containers connected with rubber hosing and duct tape

Coolers, thermos bottles, or other cold storage containers

Respiratory masks and filters or dust masks

Funnels, hosing and clamps

Discarded rubber or latex gloves

Coffee filters, pillow cases or bed sheets stained red (used to filter red phosphorous), or containing a white powdery residue

 

IF YOU SUSPECT A METH LAB:

 

    * Leave the site at once and report it

    * Do not open any coolers, container or boxes

    * Do not touch any items

    * Don't shut off any electrical supplies

    * Limit time inside scene

    * Handling meth chemicals and/or meth lab waste residue can burn your skin and eyes. Breathing the gases can cause respiratory damage

    * Try not to alert the suspects of your suspicions

 

WHERE TO GET HELP:

 

If you discover a meth lab or the remnants of a lab, call 9-1-1. If you suspect there might be a meth lab at a property within the city of Portland, call the Portland Police Bureau Drugs & Vice Division at 503-823-0246.

 

Education and Community Outreach:

The Drugs and Vice Division provides meth lab awareness training. Contact Sgt. Eric Schober at the Drugs and Vice Division at 503-823-0246

   

Website: http://www.orpartnership.org/