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Methamphetamine Seizures Rise in DEA’s

Omaha Division

amphetamine sampled
through the DEA pro-
filing program averag-
es 96.9 percent purity
while prices remain low
and stable.

Methamphetamine,
or meth, is a crystal-
ized powdery-like sub-
stance. Crystal meth
typically resembles
fragments of glass and
can sometimes have a
colored tint. The drug
can be swallowed,
smoked, snorted or in-
jected and has potent
central nervous system
stimulant properties.
High doses of meth may
result in death from
stroke, heart attack or
multiple organ problems
caused by overheating.
“Meth is a highly addic-
tive drug,” Thimmesch
The DEA Minneapolis-St. Paul District Office conducted said. “It’s coming into
controlled delivery of 152 pounds of meth leading to six the country at alarming
rates and the West and
arrests. Midwest regions of the
country are being hit
hardest. That being said,
OMAHA, Neb., – As the nation rec- “Meth is becoming more and more the DEA is working countless hours
ognizes National Methamphetamine accessible across the area,” Act- alongside our law enforcement part-
Awareness Day today, the Drug En- ing Special Agent in Charge Darin ners to help take meth off the streets
forcement Administration’s Omaha Thimmesch said. “We’ve seen an and out of our communities.”
Division announces that it has seen increase in meth in the Midwest as
a three percent increase in meth- prices continue to go down and puri- For more information on metham-
amphetamine seizures in one year. ty levels increase.” phetamine view the 2018 National
The division, which includes Iowa, Drug Threat Assessment or call your
Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dako- With domestic methamphetamine local DEA office.
ta and South Dakota, registered 817 production at its lowest levels since Methamphetamine seizures rise in
pounds of seized methamphetamine 2000, Mexican transnational crim- DEA’s Omaha Division. (2018, Novem-
in 2017 and collected 842.6 pounds inal organizations have become the ber 30). Retrieved January 22, 2019,
in conjunction with state and local primary producer and supplier of from https://www.dea.gov/press-releas-
law enforcement investigations in low cost, high purity methamphet- es/2018/11/30/methamphetamine-sei-
2018. amine. The 2018 National Drug zures-rise-deas-omaha-division
Threat Assessment notes that meth-

FEBRUARY 2019 NARCOTIC OFFICERS MAGAZINE™ — 5