How to ID a Meth Lab
A clandestine drug laboratory becomes an emergency
immediately upon discovery.
Call 911 immediately or the Boulder County Drug Task
Force at 303-441-4444.
There are many possible ways to ID a meth lab. You can
look for some of the following indicators:
Unusually strong odors
 Photo:
Fuel
Suspicious Behavior
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Windows blacked out.
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Payment in cash.
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Lots of traffic (at unusual times, night time).
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Excessive trash, including beakers, duct tape, or
neon-stained coffee filters.
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Large amounts of over-the-counter drug containers,
including products containing ephedrine or pseudophedrine such as
Sudafed. This is usually evident by the number of empty blister packs
in the trash.
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Unusual amount of clear glass containers.
Photo:
Excessive Trash
Photo:
Blister Packs
WARNING: Never open a
trash bag to try to identify the contents! Inhaling the toxic gasses
associated with Meth lab waste can be very dangerous, even fatal.
Damage to Property
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Discoloration of walls, especially brown iodine stains.
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Corroded gas canisters.
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Excessive amount of trash that includes numerous
Coleman fuel or HEET containers.
Photo:
Iodine Stains
Photo:
Risk of Explosion
Photo:
Fuel
Do not take chances!
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Do not enter an apartment or other structure that may
house a meth lab. Meth labs are very hazardous, potentially explosive
environments.
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Do not approach tenants if you suspect they are
producing meth. Use of or exposure to meth may cause paranoia and
violent behavior.
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Do not open trash or other containers that may contain meth materials. A bag of meth by-products can be fatal if inhaled
directly.
Photo:
Fire Damage
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Meth Lab
Resources
Preventing Meth Labs
Better to prevent a problem than to try and
clean it up later.
Cleanup
Cleanup resources to minimize lasting health impacts.
Photo
Gallery:
Meth Labs
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