Friday, May 11, 2001

The Natchez Democrat

A Wednesday seizure of ingredients used to make crystal methamphetamine

sends an alarming signal to local law enforcement officers.

&uot;It’s discouraging for us to locate this in our area here,&uot;

said Natchez Police Chief Willie Huff. &uot;The crystal (meth)

problem is growing and soon it will be as big and bad as the crack

cocaine problem.&uot;

A husband and wife were arrested in Natchez Wednesday after

Metro Narcotics officers seized ingredients used to make crystal

methamphetamine at their residence.

Herbert N. Murray Jr., 29, and Valerie C. Murray, 30, both

of 3901 Ridgewood Road, were arrested Wednesday after officers

seized ingredients used in the manufacture of crystal meth at

the Murrays’ residence. Both individuals are charged with possession

of precursors to make crystal methamphetamine, possession of crystal

methamphetamine and conspiracy to manufacture crystal methamphetamine.

Officers are still investigating whether the couple was manufacturing

the drug at their residence.

Although this is the first seizure of its type since the Metro

unit was formed in 1988, Adams County Sheriff Tommy Ferrell said

the trend to ruralization or crystal meth is growing.

&uot;The original labs started in the suburban areas,&uot;

Ferrell said.

But changes in the time required to manufacture the drug and

the ease of manufacture – it can be made by combining fairly

common chemicals and ingredients – means crystal meth labs

are spreading to rural areas. Labs have been found in trailers,

sheds, hotels and even cars.

And that spread can be dangerous, he added. Items used in the

manufacture of crystal meth include anhydrous ammonia, which can

be deadly.

&uot;The problem with anhydrous ammonia is it is so volatile

and so dangerous,&uot; Ferrell said. &uot;It’s highly explosive,

it’s highly flammable and (it’s) highly poisonous,&uot; Ferrell

said.

Because the drugs are so dangerous, officers can not even enter

a lab where it is being manufactured or where chemicals are present

unless they are certified in this procedure. They also must report

their findings to such agencies as the Mississippi Department

of Environmental Quality.

&uot;It’s just so extremely dangerous that officers do not

need to go into that situation untrained and even if they are

trained without the proper equipment,&uot; Maj. Churk Mayfield

of the Metro Narcotics Unit said.

In this case, the officers were able to seize the ingredients

because they were in closed containers and no manufacture was

taking place.

Mayfield said officers had been watching the Murrays for about

six months before Wednesday’s seizure, which was highly charged.

&uot;During the raid (Valerie Murray) brandished a loaded

auto(matic) pistol,&uot; Ferrell said, adding that he commended

the officers for handling the situation without any shots being

fired.

Officers also seized a small quantity of crystal methamphetamine

and a substance they believe is by-product from making the drug,

Mayfield said.

The Murrays were arraigned Thursday in Adams County Justice

Court. Each and were being held on a $290,000 bond. Preliminary

hearings will be June 5.

At the time of his arrest this week, Herbert Murray was serving

probation for a July 2000 conviction involving crystal meth.