This fall the Muskogee County Sheriff's Office formed a drug task force to cope with the county's meth problem. Already the team is making a difference.
Muskogee County K-9 Deputy Jeff Gragg and his K-9 partner Apollo have been even busier since becoming part of the department's drug task force. Since it was formed in September, deputies uncovered 13 meth labs and arrested 28 suspects.
Gragg says 12 of the 13 have been shake and bake labs. "In the past, labs were big and you would go to a great expense to make small amounts of the product. Where as now they can make usable amounts every day."
Shake and bake labs are smaller, but just as dangerous as traditional labs. They can be found in cars and homes.
Gragg says when the meth cooks are finished, they often carelessly discard the toxic remnants. "They toss them on the side of roads, little kids can pick them up. It's very dangerous. If they aren't allowed to breathe, they will explode and definitely harm a lot of people."
It's because of the serious risk that meth labs pose, that Dep. Gragg says the drug task force will continue to work diligently to put as many of these labs out of commission as they can.
Tips from citizens play a mayor role in helping authorities take down these meth cooks. If you suspect drug activity is happening in your neighborhood, contact your local law enforcement agency. If you live in Muskogee, call the Sheriff's Office at 918-687-0202.
