DEA
Congressional Testimony
June 27, 2005
Statement
of Timothy J. Ogden
Associate Special Agent in Charge
Chicago Field Division
Drug Enforcement Administration
Before the
House Government Reform Committee
Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources
June 27, 2005
“Fighting Meth in America’s
Heartland: Assessing Federal, State, and Local Efforts”
Chairman Souder, and distinguished members of the House Government Reform
Committee-Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources,
my name is Timothy Ogden and I am the Associate Special Agent in Charge
of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Chicago Field
Division. On behalf of DEA Administrator, Karen Tandy, and Chicago
Field Division Special Agent in Charge, Richard Sanders, I appreciate
your invitation to testify today regarding the DEA’s efforts
to combat methamphetamine in the State of Minnesota.
Overview Until the late 1980s, methamphetamine was a relatively unknown drug
outside of the states along the West Coast. However, by the early 1990s,
methamphetamine was gaining in popularity and began spreading across
the country. In 1990, only two states reported the seizure of 20 or more
methamphetamine labs. In 2004, this number had skyrocketed to 41 states.
Today, few places in the United States have not felt its impact, and
Minnesota is no exception.
In an effort to combat methamphetamine, the DEA aggressively targets
those who traffic in and manufacture this dangerous drug, as well as
those who traffic in the chemicals used to produce methamphetamine. In
Minnesota and across the nation, we have initiated and led successful
enforcement efforts focusing on methamphetamine and its precursor chemicals
and have worked jointly with our federal, state and local law enforcement
partners to combat this drug. The efforts of law enforcement have resulted
in tremendously successful investigations, which have dismantled and
disrupted high-level methamphetamine trafficking organizations, as well
as dramatically reduced the amount of pseudoephedrine entering our country.
We are well aware that combating
this drug requires a concerted effort by law enforcement and we are
working with our partners across the country
to fight methamphetamine. Another tool in this fight comes from the DEA’s
Office of Training, which shares our expertise by training thousands
of our state and local partners from all the over country, as well as
our international counterparts. The DEA also provides cleanup assistance
to law enforcement agencies across the country, as they battle this drug.
National Threat
Assessment and Trends Mexico-based and California-based
Mexican traffickers control “super
labs” and produce the majority of methamphetamine available throughout
the United States. A “super lab” is defined as a laboratory
capable of producing 10 pounds or more of methamphetamine within a production
cycle. The supply of methamphetamine in the United States is supplemented
by multiple “small toxic laboratories” (STLs), which are
generally not affiliated with major drug trafficking organizations. No
precise breakdown is available, but current drug and lab seizure data
suggests that roughly two-thirds of the methamphetamine used in the United
States comes from larger labs, increasingly in Mexico, and that probably
about one-third of the methamphetamine consumed in this country comes
from medium-to-small domestic laboratories.
Mexican criminal organizations control most mid-level and retail methamphetamine
distribution in the Pacific, Southwest, and West Central regions of the
United States, as well as much of the distribution in the Great Lakes
and Southeast regions. Mexican midlevel distributors sometimes supply
methamphetamine to Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMGs) and Hispanic gangs
for retail distribution throughout the country.
Asian methamphetamine distributors
(Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese) are active in the
Pacific region, although Mexican criminal
groups trafficking in “ice methamphetamine” have supplanted
Asian criminal groups as the dominant distributors of this drug type
in Hawaii. OMGs distribute methamphetamine throughout the country, and
reporting indicates that they are particularly prevalent in many areas
of the Great Lakes region, New England and New York/New Jersey regions.
The rapid spread of methamphetamine
throughout the United States is due in part to the proliferation of
STLs, which are found in rural areas,
tribal and federal lands, big cities, and suburbs. Although the amount
of methamphetamine actually produced by these STLs is relatively small,
the adverse impact they have on local communities is enormous. The impact
of the drug itself on the abusers is a serious enough problem, but it
does not stop there. This drug’s victims include victims of methamphetamine-related
crime, drug endangered children, the environment and government entities
on all levels, which are strained by the responsibility of combating
STLs.
Minnesota Threat
Assessment Methamphetamine in Minnesota
is a two-pronged problem. First, large quantities of methamphetamine
produced by Mexican organizations are transported
into and distributed throughout the state. Mexican traffickers also control
the transportation, distribution, and bulk sales of cocaine, marijuana
and small amounts of black-tar heroin. Mexican groups, who receive their “product” from
the West Coast or Mexico, typically transport their methamphetamine via
couriers, through the U.S. mail or by commercial carriers. As a general
rule, the upper echelon Mexican distributors in Minnesota transport the
majority of their drug proceeds back to family members residing in Mexico.
Second, like so many other
Midwestern States, law enforcement agencies in Minnesota are faced
with a large number of STLs. These STLs produce
relatively small quantities of methamphetamine, but have a huge impact
on the people of Minnesota. Local independent dealers are the primary
methamphetamine producers in Minnesota. In outlying areas of the state,
these groups and OMGs distribute methamphetamine in small quantities.
The Birch reduction (Nazi) method (using anhydrous ammonia) is the predominant
method used to manufacture methamphetamine in Minnesota. The majority
of methamphetamine labs discovered in Minnesota produce less than one
to two ounces per “cook” several times a week. Most of the
precursor and reagent chemicals used to produce this drug are purchased
from legitimate suppliers, usually convenience stores. Occasionally,
anhydrous ammonia is stolen from farms in agricultural areas.
Methamphetamine lab-related
seizures in the State of Minnesota, as reported to the El Paso Intelligence
Center (National Clandestine Laboratory Seizure
System – as of 6/17/05) for FY-2002 through FY-2004 are listed
below. It should be noted that some State and local law enforcement agencies
choose not to report their clandestine laboratory numbers to EPIC, so
these numbers are lower than the actual numbers of labs in Minnesota:
|
Chem/Glass/Equip |
Dumpsites |
Labs |
Total |
FY-2002 |
42 |
15 |
158 |
215 |
FY-2003 |
72 |
56 |
188 |
316 |
FY-2004 |
32 |
40 |
120 |
192 |
Battling
Methamphetamine – Labs
and Precursor Chemicals
As a result of our efforts and those of our law enforcement partners
in the U.S. and Canada, we have seen a dramatic decline in methamphetamine “super
labs” in the U.S. In 2004, 55 “super labs” were seized
in the United States, the majority of which were in California. This
is a dramatic decrease from the 246 “super labs” seized
in 2001. This decrease in “super labs” is largely a result
of DEA’s enforcement successes against suppliers of bulk shipments
of precursor chemicals, notably ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Law
enforcement has also seen a huge reduction in the amount of pseudoephedrine,
ephedrine, and other precursor chemicals seized at the Canadian border.
But with the drop in “super lab” activity in the United
States, however, we have also seen an increase of “super lab” activity
in Mexico. In addition, the DEA has been working to ensure that only legitimate
businesses with adequate chemical controls are licensed to handle bulk
pseudoephedrine and ephedrine in the United States. In the past seven
years, more than 2,000 chemical registrants have been denied, surrendered,
or withdrawn their registrations or applications as a result of DEA investigations.
Between 2001 and 2004, DEA Diversion Investigators physically inspected
more than half of the 3,000 chemical registrants at their places of business.
We investigated the adequacy of their security safeguards to prevent
the diversion of chemicals to the illicit market, and audited their recordkeeping
to ensure compliance with federal regulations.
The DEA is also
working with our global partners to target international methamphetamine
traffickers and to increase chemical control efforts abroad. The DEA has
worked hand in hand with its law enforcement counterparts in Canada,
Hong Kong and
Mexico, and regulatory authorities to identify and investigate attempts to
divert pseudoephedrine. DEA’s
Efforts in Minnesota
The DEA’s Minneapolis District Office is part of the Chicago
Field Division, and covers the entire state. The office’s enforcement
efforts are led by DEA Special Agents and Task Force Officers from state
and local agencies and federal agencies, who are assigned to the Minneapolis
District Office. The Task Force Officers are deputized by DEA and have
the same authority as DEA Special Agents. DEA Special Agents and Task
Force Officers working together daily to enhance the strengths of all
involved agencies and serves as a force multiplier, by which law enforcement
can better attack the methamphetamine problem in Minnesota.
The DEA focuses
its overall enforcement operations on the large regional, national
and international
drug trafficking organizations responsible
for the majority of the drug supply in the United States. Within the
State of Minnesota, we implement the same approach by focusing our investigative
resources and efforts on the largest trafficking organizations operating
within our area of responsibility. The DEA’s enforcement efforts
and those of our state and local counterparts have resulted in numerous
successful investigations in Minnesota.
These investigations
have involved various levels of methamphetamine traffickers and lab
operators,
including local traffickers and “cooks”,
gang members, repeat offenders and sources of supply from the West Coast.
Individual investigations conducted by the Minneapolis District office
have resulted in methamphetamine seizures totaling up to approximately
25 pounds. Laboratory analysis of methamphetamine exhibits acquired in
investigations initiated by the Minneapolis District Office has documented
purities ranging up to 99 and 100 percent. Since FY-2002, the Minneapolis
District Office has made in excess of 500 methamphetamine-related arrests.
DEA’s
Clandestine Laboratory Training In response to the spread of labs across the country, more and more
state and local law enforcement officers require training to investigate
and safely dismantle these labs. Since 1998, the DEA has offered a robust
training program for our state and local partners. The DEA, through our
Office of Training, provides basic and advanced clandestine laboratory
safety training for state and local law enforcement officers and Special
Agents at the DEA Clandestine Laboratory Training Facility. Instruction
includes the Basic Clandestine Laboratory Certification School, the Advanced
Site Safety School, and the Clandestine Laboratory Tactical School. Each
course exceeds Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA)-mandated
minimum safety requirements and is provided at no cost to qualified state
and local law enforcement officers. As part of this training, approximately
$2,200 worth of personal protective equipment is issued to each student,
allowing them to safely investigate these clandestine labs and work in
this hazardous environment.
The DEA has trained more than 8,600 State and local law enforcement
personnel (plus 1,900 DEA employees), since 1998, to conduct investigations
and dismantle seized methamphetamine labs and protect the public from
methamphetamine lab toxic waste. In the last four years (fiscal years),
the DEA has provided clandestine laboratory training to more than 150
officers from Minnesota. Of this total, 52 have received training in
FY-2005.
The Office of Training
also provides clandestine laboratory awareness and “train
the trainer” programs that can be tailored for a specific agency’s
needs, with classes ranging in length from one to eight hours. Additionally,
we provide in-service training and seminars for law enforcement groups, such
as the Clandestine Laboratory Investigator's Association and the International
Association of Chief's of Police, and have provided training to our counterparts
in other countries regarding precursor chemical control, investigation and
prosecution. This DEA training is pivotal to ensuring safe and efficient cleanup
of methamphetamine lab hazardous waste.
Hazardous Waste Cleanup When a federal, state or local agency seizes a clandestine methamphetamine
laboratory, Environmental Protection Agency regulations require that
the agency ensure that all hazardous waste materials are safely removed
from the site. In 1990, the DEA established a Hazardous Waste Cleanup
Program to address environmental concerns from the seizure of clandestine
drug laboratories. This program promotes the safety of law enforcement
personnel and the public by using qualified companies with specialized
training and equipment to remove hazardous waste. To aid in environmentally
sound clandestine drug laboratory cleanup, the DEA has enlisted the services
of the private sector. Private contractors provide hazardous waste removal
and disposal services to the DEA, as well as to state and local law enforcement
agencies.
DEA's hazardous waste program, with the assistance of grants to state
and local law enforcement, supports and funds the cleanup of a majority
of the laboratories seized in the United States. Just in FY-2004, the
DEA administered 10,061 state and local clandestine laboratory cleanups
at a cost of $18.6 million.
In Minnesota, from FY-2002 through FY-2005 (as of June 20, 2005), the
DEA administered 947 lab cleanups, at a total cost of $1,202,180.00.
For FY-2005 (as of June 20, 2005), the DEA has thus far administered
144 cleanups in Minnesota at a cost of $280,200.00.
Demand Reduction Efforts
The DEA is aware
that Demand Reduction is an important aspect in law enforcement’s fight against methamphetamine, and the Minneapolis
District Office is actively engaged in this effort. The DEA’s Demand
Reduction Coordinators are Special Agents who are working all around
the nation to raise awareness about the dangers of methamphetamine. These
Special Agents bring law enforcement experience and expertise to communities
dealing with the full range of methamphetamine issues, including small
toxic labs, the health consequences of methamphetamine, community anti-methamphetamine
initiatives, and legal penalties for methamphetamine production and trafficking,
and other critical issues.
Since 2003, the
Minneapolis District office’s Demand Reduction
Coordinator has conducted 34 presentations in the Twin Cities area, reaching
approximately 1,935 people. During this same time, in areas outside the
Twin Cities, 75 presentations have been conducted, reaching approximately
7,800 people. Many of these presentations began as general drug-related
topics, but they invariably evolve into methamphetamine discussions.
These presentations do not include the programs that DEA has provided
to school audiences.
Victim Witness Assistance Program
More than any other
controlled substance, methamphetamine trafficking endangers children
through exposure
to drug abuse, neglect, physical
and sexual abuse, toxic chemicals, hazardous waste, fire, and explosions.
In response to these tragic phenomena, the DEA has enhanced its Victim
Witness Program to identify, refer, and report these incidents to the
proper state agencies. Each of the DEA's Field Divisions has a Victim/Witness
Coordinator to ensure that all endangered children are identified and
that each child’s immediate safety is addressed at the scene through
coordination with child welfare and health care service providers.
Conclusion The DEA, both nationally
and in Minnesota, is fully aware that the fight against methamphetamine
must continue and we must stop the spread of
this drug. Law enforcement has experienced some success, as is evidenced
by the significant decrease in the number of “super labs” seized
in this country and the huge reduction in pseudoephedrine seized at the
Canadian border. To combat this epidemic, we are fighting methamphetamine
on multiple fronts. Our enforcement efforts are focused, not only on
the large-scale methamphetamine trafficking organizations distributing
this drug, but also those who are involved in providing the precursor
chemicals necessary to manufacture this poison.
The Minneapolis
District Office is working closely with our state and local law partners
to combat methamphetamine and the spread of small
toxic labs. To more effectively and safely investigate and dismantle
these labs, the Minneapolis District Office, through our Office of
Training, has ensured that officers in Minnesota are provided with
clandestine laboratory training. Additionally, our Demand Reduction
Coordinator has taken an active role in heightening community awareness
to this drug in Minnesota. As an agency, the DEA also has expanded
our Victim Witness efforts to provide assistance to methamphetamine’s
victims. Thank you for your recognition of this important issue and the opportunity
to testify here today. I will be happy to answer any questions you may
have.
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