Drug Ring Indicted for Trafficking Methamphetamine from Mexico into Arkansas

Federal and state officials arrested 22 people on 36 counts of trafficking an atypical form of methamphetamine smuggled from Mexico into Arkansas. Authorities also seized 13.3 pounds of the drug, seven vehicles, $163,590, and five guns from the criminal organization.
 
The type of methamphetamine seized in this operation is not the common kind made in small batches using ephedrine, according to Reuters. This crystal form of the drug is called “ice” and usually produced in Mexico. Arkansas has become a regional distribution hub for Mexican ice methamphetamine.
 
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and potentially lethal stimulant that can be taken orally, snorted, smoked, and injected. The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that high doses have been associated with aggressive and violent behavior—in addition to irritability, tremors, convulsions, anxiety, paranoia, neurotoxic effects, hyperthermia, and cardiovascular collapse. Numerous ways to manufacture the drug exist, including small scale production. The toxic waste resulting from methamphetamine production poses a serious health risk not only to the individuals making the drug, but to those in the vicinity of the lab as well.
 
“Methamphetamine production and use has become a widespread problem in the United States,” states Scott Van Etten, CIH, EMSL Analytical’s National Director of Industrial Hygiene. “EMSL has received increasing requests to test for methamphetamine as its frightening popularity continues to grow.”

For more information on EMSL’s testing services, please contact EMSL at (800) 220-3675, visit www.EMSL.com or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical, Inc. is a full service testing company providing quality lab services under the same private ownership since 1981. Including the corporate lab facility in Cinnaminson, NJ, EMSL Analytical operates over thirty laboratories nationwide in the US and Canada. We provide analytical services for environmental, indoor air quality (IAQ), industrial hygiene, forensics and materials science, consumer products, food safety, PCR, pharmaceutical, asbestos, lead, and radiological samples. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations, as well as state and federal regulating bodies. Please see our website for a complete listing of accreditations.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior VP of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com