Who We Are - Overview

3 May 2001
“Operation No2Meth” Puts Retail Employees on Alert for Meth Precursor Chemical Sales
Businesses to Report Suspicious Activity

What:
The Meth Strike Force launches “Operation No2Meth,” a massive retail awareness campaign to make businesses aware of existing legislation limiting the sale of products containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, the main ingredients for making methamphetamine. Vista Sheriff’s deputies and San Diego Police Department volunteers visit hundreds of local retailers to educate them about the quantities and combinations of products being purchased that could be used to illegally manufacture meth and urge them to report anyone suspected of making the drug by calling
1-877-No-2-Meth (662-6384).

Why:

	Meth makers need ephedrine to manufacture meth.
	City, county and state laws restrict the amount of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine products that can be purchased at one time (three packages or 9 grams in a 24 hour period).
	Chemicals used for making meth can be very dangerous before and after the drug is produced.
	Cleaning-up a meth lab costs between $3,100 and $150,000, depending on the size.

When:
Monday, May 7, 2001, 10:30 AM

Where:
4560 Viewridge Ave
(DEA Training Room, 3rd Floor)

Who:

	Supervisor Dianne Jacob, District 2, County of San Diego Board of Supervisors
	Errol J. Chavez, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration
	Undersheriff Jack Drown, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
	Capt. Larry Moratto, San Diego Police Department
	Sgt. Marcos Ramirez, San Diego Sheriff’s Department, South Vista COPPS Unit.
	Linda Bridgeman-Smith, Vista Partners Project
	Business representatives

Visuals:
Active meth lab; pictures of real labs; meth manufacturing chemicals; solvents and apparatus; and equipment and special suits used to clean meth labs.