THE WINSTON CHURCHILL MEMORIAL TRUST OF AUSTRALIA
Report by-
Randall Smith -
2002/1 Churchill Fellow
Detective Sergeant
Queensland Police Service
200 Roma Street,
Brisbane Q 4000
To undertake a study of police investigations of clandestine drug laboratories.
1
INDEX
Page
1. Introduction
3
2. Executive summary
4-5
3. Programme
6-7
4. Main body
8-10
5. Conclusions and Recommendations
11
2
1.
INTRODUCTION
This report details the findings from a 2002 Churchill Fellowship visit to the United
States of America and Canada to undertake a study of police investigations of
Clandestine Drug Laboratories. Specific areas included;
•
Studying current trends in the manufacturing of Illicit drugs with a focus on
Methylamphetamine.
•
Proactive policing in the location of Clandestine Drug Laboratories
•
Examination of safety procedures, when dismantling Clandestine Drug
Laboratories.
My visit to the United States of America and Canada and the invaluable experiences I
gained would not have been possible without;
•
the financial assistance given to me by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.
•
Special Agents Gene Sugimoto and Duncan Lingle of the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA), Canberra Country Office, American Embassy,
Yarralumla, A.C.T in assisting with introductions to the DEA.
•
Gayle P.Rupert, Program Manager, International Visitors Program, Office of
International Operations DEA for organising my special observation program.
•
Commissioner Robert Atkinson, Queensland Police Service for supporting my
application for a Churchill Fellowship.
•
Special Agent Chuck Johannes, DEA Office of Training- Quantico Virginia
for allowing an Australian Police Officer to complete the DEA State and local
Clandestine Laboratory Certification Training Course.
•
Mark Trask, Network Environment Services for providing training materials
for clandestine drug laboratory investigators
•
Detective Constable John Belleghem, Toronto Police Service for all assistance
provided in Canada.
•
Mr John Hugel, Senior Chemist, Health Canada for assisting with
introductions to Police officers in Canada.
•
My wife, Tricia Velthuizen also a Churchill Fellow 2002, for the support,
encouragement and assistance she provided.
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2.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Name:
Position:
Employer:
Randall Smith
Detective Sergeant
Queensland Police Service
200 Roma Street,
Brisbane QLD 4001
Fellowship objective
To undertake a study of police investigations of clandestine drug laboratories.
Fellowship highlights
1. DEA Clan Lab Academy, Quantico Virginia. - Successfully completed the
DEA State and Local Clandestine Laboratory Certification Training Course (5
days). On this course there where 45 other police officers from the USA, with
myself being the only international police officer.
2. DEA Headquarters, Washington D.C
- John Uncapher and Bill Davis , Office of Diversion Control detailed
the Chemical Diversion Programs used in the USA and suggested
applications for Australia.
- Mark Trask, Network Environment Services, provided USA materials
for clandestine laboratory investigators. These materials included
handbooks “Clandestine Laboratory First Responder Field Guide”,
“Clandestine Laboratory Site Safety Officer Field Guide”, Clandestine
Laboratory Operations and Safety Field Guide”. Also provided was a
training package “Clan Lab re-certifier”.
3. Huntsville, Alabama-Joined Detective Larry Crocker and DEA Special Agent
Rocky Harnen field experience in investigating Clandestine Laboratories
4. DEA Kansas City, Kansas- View special purpose clandestine laboratory
vehicle and attend “active” clandestine drug laboratories.
5. DEA Phoenix, Arizona- DEA Special Agent Richard Conine and Detective
Billy Ross and discuss children being exposed to Clandestine Drug
Laboratories
6. DEA Riverside County, Los Angeles- DEA Special Agent Rick Wammack
and Detective Thomas Salisbury and discuss “Drug Endangered Children’s
Program”.
7. Toronto, Canada- Detective Constable John Belleghem and Mr John Hugel
Senior Chemist, Health Canada and receive Clan lab training materials.
8. Calgary, Canada- Detective Pat Tetley, execution of search warrant and
training materials received.
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Findings
As a result of this Churchill Fellowship: • I have successfully completed the DEA State and Local Clandestine Laboratory
Certification Training course.
•Obtained current training materials utilised by investigators of clandestine drug
laboratories in the United States of America and Canada.
•Identified a program currently being conducted in California, U.S.A titled “Drug
Endangered Children Program” which related to children being exposed to
clandestine drug laboratories.
Dissemination and implementation
Seminars
• I am the Course Co-ordinator for the Queensland Police Service “Clandestine
Laboratory Investigations Course” which is conducted annually at the Queensland
Police Service Academy. This course is attended by officers from Queensland
and throughout Australia. The knowledge obtained from completing this course
and the materials provided will be benefit Police officers throughout Australia and
inturn will benefit the Australian community.
•Invited seminar presentations targeting exposure to clandestine drug laboratories
will be provided to members of the Queensland Ambulance Service and
Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority. (Ongoing throughout 2002).
•I will be available to assist other Police Services in Australia with current
information in relation to Clandestine Drug Laboratories and able to provide
assistance with this training.
Publications
•I identified clandestine laboratory training resources available to law
enforcement personnel in the United States of America. These publications
consisted of safety field guides that are made available to first response officers
and clandestine laboratory investigators. These guides are structured for
investigations in the United States and references are made to local products found
overseas. A similar field guide produced for Australian Police Officers referring
to products found in Australia would be extremely beneficial.
It is expected that three field guides will be published and made available for
Australian Police Services to assist their officers in responding to Clandestine
Drug Laboratories.
Research
• I intend to conduct further investigation into the Drug Endangered Children
Program with Department of Family Services (QLD) or similar organizations
from other states of Australia with a view of implementing this style of program.
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3. PROGRAMME
Quantico Virginia (USA)
4 February –8 February
•Complete DEA State and Local Clandestine Laboratory Certification Training
Course, Drug Enforcement Administration Academy- DEA Special Agent Special
Agent Chuck Johannes.
Washington D.C (USA)
11 February –22 February
Drug Enforcement Administration Headquarters
• Office of Diversion Control and Chemical Diversion Programs-John Uncapher,
discuss controls of precursor chemicals.
• Network Environment Services-Mark Trask, discuss “safety field guides” used
by law enforcement officers in the United States whilst investigating clandestine
drug laboratories.
•DEA Special Testing and Research Lab- DEA Chemist Tim McKibben and
discuss trends with clandestine drug laboratories.
-DEA Chemist Dr Edwardy Skyes Franzosa and receive briefing on “tool
impressions” associated with tablets/pills used in illicit drugs.
Huntsville, Alabama (USA)
22 February – 3 March
•Huntsville Police Department (Narcotics)- Detective Larry Crocker
•DEA Huntsville- Special Agent Rocky Harne
- Complete active field experience, undertake surveillance duties of
known drug offenders and observe search warrant techniques
- View dedicated clandestine laboratory response vehicles.
- Attend criminal courts and view drug trial
Kansas City, Kansas (USA)
3 March – 8 March
•DEA Kansas City- Group Supervisor Guy Hargreaves
- View dedicated clandestine laboratory response vehicle
- Attend “active” clandestine drug laboratory and observe DEA special
agents execute search warrants
- Observe undercover police operation.
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Phoenix, Arizona (USA)
8 March – 13 March
•Arizona Department of Public Safety- Detective Sergeant Billy Ross
•DEA Arizona- Group Supervisor Richard Conine
-
Attend “active” clandestine drug laboratory and observe entry made by
DEA and local police departments.
View dedicated clandestine laboratory response vehicle.
Discuss children being exposed to clandestine drug laboratories
Riverside County, California (USA)
13 March –19 march
•DEA Riverside County- Group Supervisor Brian Wammack
•Riverside County sheriffs Department- Detective Thomas Salisbury
- Attend to active field experience- observe buy/bust operation.
- Discuss had and materials received in relation to Drug Endangered
Children program which was pioneered in California.
- Obtain training videos.
Toronto, Canada
19 March – 23 March
•Toronto Police Service- Detective Constable John Belleghem
•Health Canada –Chemist John Hugel
- View dedicated clandestine laboratory response vehicle
- Present overview of clandestine drug laboratories to 25 chemists of
Health Canada.
- Address senior officers of Toronto Police Service on drug problems
experience in Australia.
- Obtain training videos.
Calgary, Canada
23 March – 29 March
•Calgary Police Service- Detective Pat Tetley
- Observe execution of search warrants.
- View training videos
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4. MAIN BODY
The number of Clandestine Drug Laboratories being located by police officers in
Australia is increasing annually. In Queensland, at the end of the year 2001 a total
of 115 clandestine laboratories where located, compared with 12 in 1993. Other
states throughout Australia are reporting increase numbers of clandestine drug
laboratories though not the numbers which have been detected in Queensland.
Police Services throughout Australia have developed training programs to assist
police officers in investigating clandestine drug laboratories. These training
programs where developed with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) and other materials. Invitations are extended between
each police service to allow officers to attend these courses and increase upon
their knowledge in this field. It is essential that these courses provide the most up
to date information to allow investigators the ability to conduct their
investigations safely.
Police officers investigating clandestine drug laboratories require specialised
training due to dangerous chemicals and other hazards involved with these
investigations. Members of the community also need to be made aware of the
dangers of being exposed to these clandestine drug laboratories. During the
process of manufacturing methylamphetamine if police officers or members of the
community are exposed to the gases produced there is a likelihood of death.
In recent times offenders have been using the internet to gather new techniques in
the manufacturing of methylamphetamine, along with these new techniques comes
added dangers that police officers are not aware of.
Intelligence has shown that the methods of manufacturing the illicit drug
methylamphetamine was introduced to Australia in the mid 1980’s by outlaw
motorcycle gangs from the United States of America. Law enforcement agencies
in the United States have been dealing with clandestine drug laboratories for a
lengthy period of time and have developed excellent training courses designed to
assist investigators.
The Churchill Fellowship allowed me to travel to the United States of America to
complete the Drug enforcement Administration (DEA) State and Local
Clandestine Laboratory Certification Training Course. All law enforcement
officers in the United States of America are required to complete this course
before conducting investigations of clandestine drug laboratories. This course is
recognised by all Police Services in the United states of America as being the
leading course for investigators.
Specifically I was interested in the following areas:
.
- studying current trends in the manufacturing of Illicit drugs with a
focus on Methylamphetamine;
- Proactive policing in the location of Clandestine Drug Laboratories;
- Examination of safety procedures when dismantling Clandestine Drug
Laboratories.
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4.1 Current trends in the manufacturing of illicit drug – methylamphetamine
I do not purpose to describe the different ways to manufacture
methylamphetamine. Under Queensland legislation, the Drugs Misuse Act 1986 it
is an offence to have possession of a document (recipe) used in the manufacturing
of a dangerous drug, other states of Australia have similar legislation. As this is a
public document the author is prepared to assist any law enforcement officer or
other interested person with legitimate reasons, my findings in relation to current
trends whilst undertaking this Churchill Fellowship.
As a direct result of completing the DEA State and Local Clandestine Laboratory
Certification Training Course at Quantico, Virginia I received documentation and
other training materials in relation to these methods. It was interesting to observe
the different processes used in the manufacturing of this illicit drug, and to
identify several different processes that are currently being found by law
enforcement officers in Australia. There where also a number of processes that
have not been identified in Australia that offenders may discover in the near
future.
4.2 Proactive policing in the location of Clandestine Drug Laboratories
When I considered applying for a Churchill Fellowship my focus was on
traditional policing methods used in the United States of America and Canada to
locate clandestine drug laboratories. Whilst travelling throughout the USA I was
pleased to discover that from a traditional approach our ways of investigating
these offences where very similar, the only glaring difference between the United
States of America and Australia was the amount of money each government is
able to invest in these investigations.
Whilst travelling from the east coast to the west coast of America I heard more
about a program that was pioneered in California titled, “Drug Endangered
Children Program” This project commenced in November 1997 as a pilot
project by the California governor’s Office of Criminal Justice and Planning. The
purpose of the Drug Endangered Children Program is to intervene on behalf of
children who have been exposed to methylamphetamine and its precursors as a
result of residing in a home-based clandestine drug laboratory.
Exposure to this physical and social environment, often associated with family
violence, emotional abuse, neglect, criminal behaviour, dysfunctional care giving,
and toxic chemicals, poses multiple dangers to children including
a) Injury or death from fire or explosions resulting from flammable materials
used in home-based labs.
b) Risk of poisoning and intoxication from accidental ingestion or absorption of
accessible, improperly stored chemical precursors, by-products and finished
drug product,
c) Risk of acute health problems including upper respiratory symptoms,
headaches, nausea, dermatologic problems, or chemical burns,
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The program established multi-disciplinary “Drug Endangered Children” (DEC)
Response Teams, which composed of law enforcement, child welfare workers,
public health and medical practitioners, and prosecutors working to promote both
public safety and public health.
Whilst Australian States have developed legislation in relation to the “Neglect of
Children” further emphasis needs to be made to the dangers of children being
exposed in clandestine drug laboratories. Research in the United States showed
that prior to this program, when investigators located a Clandestine Drug
Laboratory the focus was on the offenders and the only thought for the children
was finding a family friend to care for the child whilst the parents where in
custody.
This program allows for investigators to contact the DEC Response Team who
will investigator offences against the child and consider relocating the child in
“care”. As this is a multi-disciplinary team approach medical monitoring of the
child can commence upon the DEC Response Teams involvement.
This program can be implemented in Australia.
4.2 Examination of safety procedures when dismantling Clandestine Drug
Laboratories
This Churchill Fellowship has given me the opportunity to attend the Drug
Enforcement Administration Academy and successfully complete the DEA State
and Local Clandestine Laboratory Certification Training Course. This course
highlighted current safety procedures utilised by law enforcement officers in the
United States of America. It also reinforced basic safety procedures such as
monitoring air quality and the use of Personal Protective Equipment.
Whilst completing this course I obtained from Mr Mark Trask of Network
Environmental Systems Inc three field guides used by Clandestine laboratory
Investigators in the United States of America and Canada. These training
resources are titled
-Clandestine Laboratory Operations and Safety field Guide
-Clandestine Laboratory Site Safety officer Field Guide
-Clandestine Laboratory First Responder field Guide
These field guides contain information that can be carried by law enforcement
officers and referred to in the field. They contain information that relates to
American precursor chemicals and photographs of these products for easy
recognition by officers. They also have a step by step guide of what is required
by each officer and their role at these scenes.
As these field guides are specifically aimed at Clandestine Laboratory
Investigations in the United States and Canada they have limited use in Australia.
There is a need for a field guide to be produced for Australian law enforcement
officers that contains Australian precursor products and glassware.
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6. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Australian police officers are encountering Clandestine Drug laboratories on an
almost daily basis. As the majority of these police officers have had limited
experience in dealing with these dangerous situations there is a need to provide
training to both first response officers through to Clandestine drug Laboratory
Investigators.
There is a further need to involve other emergency personnel and community
groups to be aware of the dangers associated with being exposed to a clandestine
drug laboratory.
The following recommendations are made as a result of this Churchill Fellowship;
1. That Police Services throughout Australia continue to share information in
relation to new trends to manufacture methylamphetamine identified in their
respective states.
2. That Police Services throughout Australia allow clandestine investigators to
travel to other states to undertake clandestine laboratory investigation course.
3. A “Drug Endangered Children Program” is implemented in each states of
Australia.
4. Clandestine Laboratory Field Guides are developed to assist Australian Police
Officers in the identification and investigation of Clandestine Drug
Laboratories.
The author undertakes to implement the above recommendations and is available
to assist other police services throughout Australia and any community groups.
.
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