NC Sees Record Number of Meth Lab Busts in 2013

New figures from the office of North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper show that there were a record number of methamphetamine labs busted in 2013.

State Bureau of Investigation agents hit 561 meth labs last year,  an increase from 460 found in 2012.  Of those meth labs, 81 percent used what is called the “one pot” method, or  portable labs which make small amounts of meth. Also known as “shake and bake” labs, one pot meth labs use a small amount of pseudoephedrine to make meth in a plastic soda bottle. The labs are easy to conceal and move, making them more challenging for law enforcement to find than traditional meth labs that are larger and less mobile. 

The attorney general credits technology for the ability to find meth labs.

“Technology is leading us to meth labs we otherwise wouldn't know about,” Cooper said in a statement.  “We want to encourage all law enforcement agencies in North Carolina to take advantage of this tool to protect their communities.”

In North Carolina, all pharmacies log all customer purchases of products containing pseudoephedrine, which is an ingredient in some cold remedies, through the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx).  State law limits purchases of products that contain pseudoephedrine to no more than two packages at one time,  and no more than three packages within 30 days.  Purchasers must show a photo ID and sign a log.  All pills containing pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are required to be placed behind a pharmacy counter.  The NPLEx system automatically allows pharmacies to know if a customer has reached the legal limit for pseudoephedrine within a month.

North Carolina pharmacies began using the system on January 1, 2012. Last year, NPLEx blocked the illegal sale of 44,299 illegal purchases.

Through NPLEx, SBI agents and other law enforcement officials have access to information about pseudoephedrine purchases, which helps them to more easily identify potential meth manufacturers. 

For a county-by-county map outlining methamphetamine lab busts in North Carolina, click here.