Indiana State Police Participate in Multi-Agency Meth Investigations

NORTHERN INDIANA - On December 2nd and 3rd, 2009 a combined effort among police agencies in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan directed their efforts towards the investigation of methamphetamine in their respective communities.   

The Meth Suppression and Drug Enforcement Sections of the Indiana State Police along with the IMAGE Drug Task Force, the Elkhart Police Department, Elkhart County ICE, and the Sheriff’s Departments from LaGrange, Steuben, and Whitley Counties all shared information and resources to investigate meth tips and complaints in LaGrange, Steuben, Elkhart, Kosciusko and St. Joseph Counties. 

The Michigan State Police Methamphetamine Investigation Team and South West Enforcement Team, the Drug Enforcement Administration (Detroit Office), Cass County Drug Team, St. Joseph County Drug Team, and the Michigan HIDTA coordinated their efforts in Southern Michigan.  

Five groups of the multi-agency law enforcement teams from the above listed agencies were able to provide the following meth-related investigative services in Indiana: 

• Follow-up was provided on 27 drug tips on addresses and/or suspects
• Five Methamphetamine Labs were seized
  • Three in Elkhart County
  • One in LaGrange County
  • One in Steuben County
• Two children were referred to Division of Children Services under the Drug Endangered Child Protocol
• Five suspects were arrested on various charges
• Additional suspected drugs seized:
  • Methamphetamine
  • Marijuana
  • Hash
  • Hash oil
  • Prescription medication
  • Paraphernalia
• Charges will be pending on two  additional suspects

Michigan authorities seized six clandestine lab incidents and arrested two suspects in Cass and St. Joseph Counties 

According to First Sergeant Niki Crawford, Commander of the Meth Suppression Section, “Methamphetamine and the domestic production of meth continue to plague our communities.  State-wide, Indiana law enforcement has seized more labs in 2009 than in any other year.  The previous record was 1,115 set in 2004.  Many of these targeted counties fall in the top 10 counties when ranked according to meth labs seized.  Elkhart County ranks 1st with 98 labs seized, Kosciusko County ranks 6th with 58 seized, and LaGrange County ranks 10th with 29 labs seized.  Steuben County falls into the top 20 in the state with 15 lab incidents, as of November 9th of this year”. 

First Sergeant Crawford adds that “In the coming months, Indiana law enforcement will have a new tool to assist them in more efficiently investigating clandestine meth labs and the “smurfing” of pseudoephedrine products.  The Indiana Meth Intelligence System (IMIS) is currently being built in preparation for a launch of the program in 2010.  The intelligence system will not only hold the electronically reported pseudoephedrine sales from retail outlets around the state, but also a variety of other meth specific intelligence sources and programming features to connect the dots on meth cooks and smurf groups.  Michigan is utilizing and building the same program and information will be shared among law enforcement agencies across our state lines”.