CLANDESTINE DRUG LABORATORY DEFINITIONS/SLANGS

Clandestine drug laboratory

Clandestine drug laboratories (clan labs) are facilities equipped and used in the production of illegal drugs.

Cook

1. The person having the knowledge or recipe and controlling the mixing of chemicals (synthesis) to manufacture illicit drugs.
    
2. The process of preparing individual chemicals to react with other chemicals and reagents to get to the end product of whatever illicit drug desired.
    

Synthesis

The combination of parts or elements into a whole.

WHAT DOES A CLANDESTINE LABORATORY LOOK LIKE?

A clan lab can be very elaborate or simple. The location of the lab could be clean, well organized or dirty, messy and disorganized. Clan labs have been found in every neighborhood on Oahu. Rich and poor residential neighborhoods, in industrial areas, hotel rooms, condominium, town houses, open fields, abandoned structures, buses and other vehicles.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS OR INDICATIONS OF A CLAN LAB?

• Extra ordinary security precautions being taken by the people to protect their privacy, such as security cameras, added locks, bars over windows, etc.
• Chemical containers, even more so when the labels are obliterated.
• Unusual foot traffic, containers moved in and out.
• Persons who come outside only to smoke and/or eat and drink.
• Unusual odors coming from a structure or location, such as the odor of ether or acetone (odor of fingernail polish remover).
• Dead foliage in run off areas.
• The discarding of numerous match books with only the striker pads missing.
• The discarding numerous empty containers or blister packs of over-the-counter cold medicines.
• Residences with blacked out windows.
• Renters who pay their landlords in cash. (Most drug dealers trade exclusively in cash.)
• Lots of traffic - people coming and going at unusual times. There may be little traffic during the day, but at night the activity increases dramatically.
• Excessive trash including large amounts of items such as: antifreeze containers, lantern fuel cans, red chemically stained coffee filters, drain cleaner and duct tape.
  Unusual amounts of clear glass containers being brought into the home.

WHAT TYPES OF DRUGS ARE MADE IN CLAN LABS?

The most common type of illicit drug manufactured in a clandestine drug lab is Methamphetamine. Other types of drugs that have been found in clandestine drug laboratories across the United States:

• Amphetamine - Speed
• Methamphetamine - Ice, Batu, Crystal Meth
• GHB - Gamma-hydroxy butyrate, Date Rape Drug, Salty Water
• LSD - D-lysergic acid Diethylamide, Acid
• MDMA - 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Ecstasy, XTC, Hug Drug, Adam

WHAT TYPE OF LABORATORY EQUIPMENT WOULD YOU SEE AT A CLAN LAB?

A Clan Lab may have the latest in professional laboratory chemical equipment and glassware. Usually they consist of an assortment of normal household cooking equipment like, Mason canning jars, 1 or 2 liter soft drink bottles, any heat resistant glass cookware, coffee decanters, coffee filters, solvent cans, plastic or rubber hoses, electric blenders and kitchen baking funnels.

WHAT TYPE OF CHEMICALS ARE FOUND AT A CLAN LAB?

You might see all or only some of these normal household chemicals that are used to manufacture illicit drugs such as Muriatic Acid/Hydrochloric acid, Caustic Soda, Red Devil Lye, Rock, Epsom or table salt, camping fuel, paint thinners, Toluene, automobile or diesel starting fluid, denatured or rubbing alcohol, Iodine tincture or crystals, "Heet", freon, ether, draino, anhydrous ammonia, lithium/sodium metal, iodine crystals, numerous (more than a normal household would use normally) pseudoephedrine, Sudafed or cold tablets that contain the chemical ephedrine.

THREE BASIC TYPES OF CLAN LABS

1. OPERATIONAL LABORATORY

This is a clan lab that is in the process of "cooking" (synthesis or blending of chemical ingredients). This is the most dangerous stage because some of the chemicals used can be unstable and highly reactive with other elements. During the "cook" blending or synthesis toxic gasses are released, a fire or an explosion could occur.

2. NON-OPERATIONAL LABORATORY

This clan lab has been just set up to begin a cook but has not started the process yet. It can also be a clan lab that has just completed a cook and has not been dismantled.

A clan lab in this stage should not be considered less dangerous than an operational laboratory.

You may find chemicals not stored or out of their original containers, contaminated glassware, chemical/acid spills and chemical residue that might ignite from friction/ heat, exposure to air or water.

3. BOXED LABORATORY

The boxed laboratory is one that has been dismantled and put away. Again, this is still a dangerous situation. You may find chemicals not stored or out of their original containers, contaminated glassware, chemical/acid spills and chemical residue that might ignite from friction/ heat, exposure to air or water.

"Boxed Laboratory"

CLAN LABS ARE HIGHLY MOBILE

Clan labs are usually very mobile in nature. The "Cook" or chemist will manufacture the illicit drugs and then immediately "Box" the lab for storage, shipment or hiding. The constant moving of a laboratory helps avoid the loss of laboratory equipment due to seizure. Boxed labs are often kept in storage lockers, garages, trailers, vehicles, etc.

DANGERS AND HAZARDS OF A CLAN LAB

FIRE - Heating elements are used in some synthesis. Heat can also be generated by two or more chemicals or elements reacting with each other.

EXPLOSIONS - A violent chemical reaction between chemicals, water and/or air could result in an explosion.

CHEMICAL BURNS - Acids are used in some synthesis process of producing illicit drugs. Physical contact with a contaminated item or area could result in a chemical burn.

TOXIC GASES - Lethal phosphine and phosgene gases, and other non-lethal but irritant or obnoxious odor gases.

WHAT DOES THE CLANDESTINE LABORATORY RESPONSE TEAM DO?

The Garvin County Sheriff's Office Clandestine Drug Laboratory Response Team is made up of deputies that investigate reports of suspected clandestine drug laboratories and follow leads of chemical precursors being used in the illicit manufacture of illegal drugs.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I SUSPECT I FOUND A CLAN LAB?

 

• Leave everything as you have found it. Do not touch anything! Leave the area immediately and call
  (405) 238-7591 for the Garvin County Sheriff's Office.

   

• Do not turn on or off, disconnect any electrical or water service to the suspected clan lab location. This also means any electrical appliance, lights, lamps, pumps and etc. Water is used to cool off the chemical reaction of the synthesis, do not turn off any flowing water source. Failure to heed any of the above mentioned "do not" warnings might result in fire, explosion or other difficulties.

   

• Stay up wind and up hill of the location.

   

How to report suspected drug offenses.

What to look for.