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Clandestine Drug Laboratories (This article was produced as a Crime Lab Service Bulletin, for investigators and personnel responding to Clan Labs, by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Scientific Services Bureau--—August 1996.) In Southern California methamphetamine production is a major concern. Last year, 168 clandestine laboratories were investigated by the Los Angeles Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement (LA/BNE) Clandestine Laboratory Task Force. As of August 20, 1996, the number of clandestine labs investigated this year is 180, most involving the manufacture of methamphetamine. Although one might expect the clandestine manufacturing of drugs to occur in some secret, orderly laboratory environment, this is not the case. Illicit drugs are manufactured under crude and hazardous conditions, using inadequate or makeshift equipment by persons with little to no chemistry background. The chemicals utilized by clandestine laboratory “cooks,” as they are called, can fit into a suitcase and therefore can be easily transported from location to location. It is not uncommon to encounter clandestine laboratory equipment and chemicals in vehicles during traffic stops, or in motel rooms.
Because the clandestine laboratory “cooks” are not trained in chemistry, they either do not understand the dangers involved or do not care. Unfortunately, the dangers they are subjecting themselves to are the same dangers you may encounter while performing your duties as a Deputy Sheriff/Police Officer. Explosion and fire are common occurrences at clandestine labs. Flammable solvents such as alcohol, acetone and charcoal lighter fluid are used in the processing stage of manufacturing and represent a danger for fire or explosion when improperly used. Red phosphorus (Red--P), a fine reddish--purple colored powder, represents a particularly dangerous hazard. Red--P is used in the initial cooking stage of methamphetamine production. If overheated or improperly used, it can be converted to white phosphorus which can spontaneously ignite resulting in toxic fumes, fire or explosion. Phosphine gas may be produced during the cooking process and is a poisonous gas which may spontaneously ignite in air. Phosphine gas is reported to have the smell of rotting fish. Phosphine can cause pain in the diaphragm, a feeling of coldness, weakness, convulsions, vertigo, coma and death. Phosphine gas has been responsible for numerous deaths in clandestine laboratories, most recently involving three persons found dead in a motel room in August, 1996. Phosphine gas is more lethal than cyanide and is immediately dangerous to life and health! If you suspect you have a clandestine laboratory, complete any exigent duties, then exit immediately and secure the location. Notify your Department's/Agency's Narcotics Bureau for assistance and stay out of the location! Under no circumstances should you touch or smell any chemicals from a clandestine lab.
Besides phosphine gas there are other hazards found in clandestine labs. Hydrochloric acid (HCl, muriatic or “pool acid”) and hydriodic acid (HI) are frequently encountered at illicit drug labs. These acids are strong irritants that will fume or form vapors which should not be inhaled or contact skin. These strong acids can cause severe burns, permanent eye damage, coughing, choking and ulceration of the respiratory tract. Along with strong acids, strong bases, such as lye, are commonly encountered which can also cause chemical burns. Any chemical contacting your skin should be washed off with soap and water. If chemicals get into your eyes, immediately flush thoroughly with water! Iodine, a purple “metallic” crystalline material, is also frequently encountered. Iodine is corrosive, can produce dangerous fumes and can cause chemical burns.
The purpose of this bulletin is not to stop you from doing your job as a Deputy Sheriff or Police Officer or to scare you unnecessarily. It is to inform you about clandestine labs and to tell you that the dangers they represent are real and can hurt you or other persons exposed to these illicit operations. The dangers inherent in illicit drug labs can be minimized by following proper procedure any time these labs are encountered. Persons from the LA/BNE Clandestine Laboratory Task Force and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Scientific Services Bureau, respond to clandestine laboratories with special training and equipment to address these hazardous situations. These laboratories can range from fully operational laboratories at personal residences to laboratory equipment and chemicals found in boxes.
For your information, the following is a list of items you might encounter
at a clandestine laboratory:
This article was reprinted in “THE PRINT” |