A dangerous line of "chemists" is plying its trade in Utah in startling numbers.
Don't look for them in college laboratories, say police.Look next door.
Methamphetamine chefs are cooking their highly explosive narcotic in apartment complexes, seedy motels and storage units.
Local demand for the inexpensive yet highly addictive drug has soared in recent years, prompting Utah Department of Public Safety to form a full-time clandestine lab team.
"These labs are extremely dangerous because they're cooking highly toxic, explosive chemicals" said public safety spokesman Verdi White II. "The lab team provides us with six peace officers trained in narcotics investigation and lab-processing procedures."
Team members are on call 24 hours a day and often help disassemble labs throughout the state.
They're a busy bunch, admits White. Reportedly, more labs were uncovered in Utah last year than in any other state except California.
Since 1994, the team has closed almost 100 operations from Logan to St. George.
"We're finding everything from sophisticated meth labs in warehouses to tiny labs in a bathroom sink," White said. "It doesn't take much more than some simple equipment, chemicals and a (drug) recipe to get started."
Even small labs yield enough methamphetamine to fetch hundreds of dollars on the street, "but most of the product usually goes to support the (manufacturer's) own habit," said team member Kelly Wuthrich.
Team members go high-tech to keep safe. Self-contained breathing suits, air-detection equipment, and fire-resistant clothing are all used in case of an explosion.
"Lab equipment is even booby trapped sometimes . . . and lab operators are often pretty strung out when police arrive," White said. "It's important to take every precaution."
Public help is vital in shutting down clandestine methamphetamine labs, police say.
Be mindful of late-night traffic and suspicious vehicles near houses, apartments and motels, police warn. Also, report any chemical odors coming from neighboring facilities.
Those suspecting a nearby methamphetamine lab should call 524-4156.