Clandestine Meth Labs

Attorney General Lockyer joined over 70 law enforcement and public officials, social service providers, farmers and community members for the first Central Valley Methamphetamine Summit, which looked at ways to step up the fight against drug labs and ease the effects of the illegal drug on children, the community, the environment and agriculture.

As seen on the US map, California is ground zero for meth production. The state is home to 80 percent of the nation’s meth labs, making the drug a leading export to other states. In addition, 97 percent of the nation’s “super labs,” those that produce more than 20 pounds of meth in a single batch, are located in California.

As seen on the California map, the problem clearly is growing. In 1999, federal, state and local law enforcement agents seized more than 2,000 meth labs in California. Five years ago, there were 559 labs seized.

The Central Valley Meth Summit was hosted by US Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and US Reps. Cal Dooley and Gary Condit.