Collecting Evidence at Clandestine Laboratories

by Michael S. McCampbell

COLLECTING EVIDENCE AT CLANDESTINE LABORATORIES: A JOB FOR EXPERTS

by

Michael S. McCampbell
Project Director, Circle Solutions, Inc.
BJA Model Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement Program

INTRODUCTION

Methamphetamine abuse and trafficking have shown a significant increase in the U.S. over the past few years. While methamphetamine was once produced and distributed primarily in California and the Southwestern United States, it has now become a major problem in States (including those who participate in RMIN) that have previously seen very little of it.

For example, Iowa’s Polk County, which includes Des Moines, reports that methamphetamine accounts for 65 percent of total drug arrests. Kansas City and surrounding Jackson County, Missouri have replaced California as the clandestine laboratory capital of the U.S. in terms of sheer number of lab seizures. Other States and localities are reporting similar problems.

HAZARDS TO PERSONNEL

The manufacturing process for methamphetamine is often crude, uncontrolled and extremely dangerous. There are currently two prevalent methods of “cooking” methamphetamine in the U.S.: the ephedrine reduction method and the “Nazi” method (labeled as such because of the belief that it was invented by the Nazis in World War II). Some of the more common chemicals used in these two methods are:

Red phosphorus
Hydriodic acid
White gasoline
Sodium hydroxide (lye)
Ethyl ether
Hydrogen chloride gas
Denatured alcohol
Anhydrous ammonia

Many of these chemicals (either alone or in combination with other substances) are reactive, explosive, flammable, corrosive, and/or toxic. For example, red phosphorus is highly toxic and unstable by itself, but when combined with hydroiodic acid, it forms poisonous phosphine gas. White gasoline, denatured alcohol, and anhydrous ammonia are highly flammable, while ethyl ether represents an extreme explosive threat. The acids listed and sodium hydroxide (lye) are extremely corrosive and can burn skin on contact or mucous membranes if inhaled.

EVIDENCE COLLECTION

Because of hazards (fire, explosion, poisonous fumes, etc.) posed by these chemicals and their by-products, evidence collection at a suspected clan lab is a dangerous, time-consuming process that should be left to experts such as specially trained chemists or criminalists. Personnel collecting evidence at a clandestine lab should wear Level C personal protective equipment (PPE) that conforms to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards. Level C PPE consists of a full-face air purifying respirator, a Tyvek suit, two pairs of rubber gloves consisting of an inner pair of surgical gloves covered by an outer pair of chemical resistant gloves, and safety boots. Other suggested equipment includes an explosive vapor monitor and phosphine gas monitor.

As with other crime scenes, one officer should collect and package evidence at a clandestine lab, while another officer records what is collected and removed from the scene. The sequence of evidence collection at a clandestine lab is as follows.

Photographs. Extensive photographs should be taken of the clandestine lab before any other evidence is collected. This must be done first because the actual lab equipment and chemicals should be collected by a toxic waste disposal company and removed from the site. Thus, the lab equipment will not be available for courtroom presentation. If possible, photos of operating labs should be taken before the reaction is shut down. Due to the possibility of an explosive environment, flash bulbs should not be used—strobes should be used instead. Each piece of equipment and operational component of the lab should be photographed. Also, a videotape should be made of the entire crime scene.

Chemical Samples. Chemical samples should be taken from each container by a forensic chemist. These samples are taken using a pipette and a sample bottle for liquids or a spatula and sample bottle for solids. Sample bottles should be labeled and photographs taken of the sample and the container from which the sample was taken. Original containers at clandestine lab sites should be collected and removed by the toxic waste hauler who removes the bulk contaminants from the site.

Fingerprints. After samples are taken, fingerprint technicians should take latent prints from glassware and other surfaces. All latent prints lifted at the scene should be considered contaminated and must be packaged as such.

Finished Product (Suspected Methamphetamine). All suspected finished product should be seized and sent to the crime laboratory for chemical analysis.

Documentary Evidence. Documentary evidence such as financial records, phone tolls, chemical formulas, recipes, money, telephone books, etc., should be collected and packaged in clear kapak bags. The bags should be sealed and marked “contaminated evidence.” The outside of these bags must be decontaminated prior to leaving the lab site.

Firearms. Any firearms found at a clandestine lab should be considered as contaminated and should be collected and placed into heat sealed kapak bags. A disposable silica gel desiccant should be placed inside the bag to keep the firearm from corroding. These bags should be marked as “contaminated evidence.”

Contaminated evidence should be stored in a location separate from other evidence. The contaminated evidence should be periodically inspected for signs of damaged packaging or suspected leakage. If a hazardous condition is noted during this inspection, a forensic chemist should inspect the evidence and recommend removal or repackaging.

CONCLUSIONS

Methamphetamine production in clandestine laboratories is on the increase in many areas of the country. Clandestine laboratories are dangerous crime scenes that pose a threat to first responders, evidence collection personnel, and the general public. They contain numerous chemicals that are explosive, flammable, reactive, and toxic. In addition, clandestine laboratories pose both short- and long-term health threats to personnel who work these crime scenes.

Evidence collection at a clandestine laboratory, while consisting of similar steps (photographs, fingerprint collection, sampling, etc.) as other crime scenes, is a much more complicated process. Special clothing and equipment is required and special sampling techniques must be used. In addition, extra precautions must be taken when storing evidence collected at clandestine laboratory sites. Clearly, evidence collection personnel who are assigned to work clandestine laboratories must have specialized training in techniques required to work these hazardous crime scenes.

Author’s Note: Information for this article was collected from several DEA public domain publications and Narcotics Raid Planning (Unit Outline and Presentation), 1996, by John Duncan, Chief Agent, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Control.