On December 30, the casino personnel reported to the Comanche Nation Police a suspicious vehicle parked at the Red River Casino in Cotton County. Upon investigation by the tribal officers, it was discovered that the car contained precursor drugs, methamphetamine lab residue and hazardous chemicals. Enough corrosive-flammable material was found in the car to cause damage within 1000-feet radius of the car. The vehicle was found to be involved in the drug manufacturing out of Wichita Falls, Texas motel and the suspects drove the vehicle to the casino. The Bureua of Indian Affairs Criminal Investigation as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) were contacted due to the type and amount of hazardous chemicals found in the car. After 12-hours of tedious clean-up activity, the casino parking lot was returned to normal use with two individual arrested on outstanding warrants.

The second incident occurred north of the tribal complex where an active meth lab was discovered and shut down by the Comanche Nation Police Department with the assistance of the DEA training Comanche County S/O officers and a DEA contracted clean up team with the support of the Wichita Mountains Fire Department. The location of the second lab within a residential area put all neighboring residences at rish from exposure to the hazardous chemicals or possible explosion of the flammable-corrosive products produced in the meth manufacture. The BIA Criminal Investigation brought about criminal complaints filed in Federal Court for the non-Indians involved alond with tribal charges on all tribal members in CFR court.

In order to be of further assistance to all those they serve, the CNPD plan on sending all their officers to a meth lab workshop to learn how to break down and clean up dangerous meth labs.

The CNPD asks everyone to protect their loved ones by being aware of the signs of meth lab that could operating in their areas.

Methamphetamine "meth"is a powerful, addictive drug that is illegally "cooked" in makeshift labs. Meth can be found in the form of pills, capsules, powder, or chunks; it can be smoked, snorted, injected or eaten. Meth is also called "crank", "speed", "crystal", and "ice". Meth labs have dramtically increased over the past several years becuase recipes are more easy to get a hold which in turn makes it relatively easy and cheap to make resulting in highs that lasts about two to 14 hours versus 15 minutes.

Meth destroys the body in dangerous ways. It destroys brain cells, which cannot be replaced. It also changes the brain's chemistry and wiring to pleasure centers.

Reprinted with Permission from the Comanche Nation News Vol. 7, No. 2
By Ramona Almanza/News Staff