“Nazi” Methamphetamine Production

After filtering, the

reaction byproducts

and traces of

methamphetamine

remain in the filter

papers. Occasionally

traces of

pseudoephedrine

precursor also

remain.

HCl Gas Generators

Salt and sulfuric

acid drain cleaner

are mixed to

produce hydrogen

chloride (HCl) gas.

“Nazi” Methamphetamine Production

Various types of

containers are

used for this

process. This is

what is know as

a “gassing

generator”.

“Nazi” Methamphetamine Production

HCl gas from gassing

generator is bubbled

through the ether /

methamphetamine

solution to form

methamphetamine

crystals which …

Methamphetamine Production

… falls to the

bottom of the

solution.

Methamphetamine Production

The ether solution

containing

methamphetamine

is filtered to recover

the “Finished

Product -

Methamphetamine”

Nazi Labs - Sometimes the cooks go to

the anhydrous ammonia.

Sometimes the anhydrous ammonia

comes to the cooks.

A lot of the time, the cooks bring the

anhydrous ammonia home.

Fire extinguisher used for anhydrous

ammonia storage

Fire extinguisher used for anhydrous

ammonia storage

Nazi Lab Trash

Law Enforcement Targets

Anhydrous Ammonia

Non-approved Container Law

Stake Out COOP fertilizer lots

Tank Locks, Additives to Anhydrous to prevent

synthesis, Dyes to Anhydrous tanks

DIY Anhydrous Ammonia

Ammonium Nitrate

or Ammonium Sulfate

+ Sodium Hydroxide (Red Devil Lye)

+ (a little) water

= “Anhydrous” Ammonia

(need a solvent)

Ammonium Nitrate

Fertilizer, Cold Packs (gets cold when mixed with water) Urea

based cold packs sort of work.

One-Pot/Shake & Bake

To one container add:

Pseudoephedrine

Ammonium Nitrate /Sulfate

Lye

Water

Lithium

Solvent (Ether or Coleman

fuel)Quiz – Which of these don’t go

together?

One-Pot Cook Video

NES & Brad Smith (Tulsa PD)

“Experiments”

Pressure builds which limits reaction –

until pressure is released.NOTE: Flashes of flame in right picture as lithium

contacts water – insufficient oxygen to support flame.

Hot Lithium burns hole in bottom of

plastic jar. Once released, sufficient

oxygen is present to support flame.

Hot Lithium burns hole in bottom of

plastic jar. Once released, sufficient

oxygen is present to support flame.

Technically – this is not an explosion!

NES & Brad Smith (Tulsa PD)

“Experiments”

Eight (8) cooks were conducted Four (4) cooks failed due to the reaction of lithium and water happening too

close to the side of the bottle

Of those four (4), three (3) burned through then had no additional flame/fire

One (1) of those four (4) did continue to burn after the bottle had failed

In this case, it was not immediately after the failure.

In other states, cooks are using glass bottles and/or metal

cans instead of plastic bottles - these fail as well for the

same reasons.

One-Pot Hazards

Pressurized Bottles

Because pressure shuts down the reaction – a bottle

can look pretty tame, but when the lid is cracked open

the reaction can start up again.

Pressurized solvents can spray out of the bottle.

This liquid can contain quite a bit of ammonia.

This liquid may contain lithium and water that can react and

serve as an ignition source.

One-Pot Hazards(continued)

Rolling or tilting the bottle can expose un-reacted

lithium to water which can burn through the side

of the container – causing flame thrower effect.

Dried reaction material is fine strongly basic

powder that can easily become airborne.

Tulsa seems to have a lot of fire problems.

Tulsa PD procedure(this is a summary – check with them for specifics)

Wait until bottle starts reacting.

If necessary move bottle to safe area (outside)

Place in fire resistant over pack and pour Vermiculite

around it.

Once in safe area – remove from over pack

(working with over pack can produce chimney effect)

Tulsa PD procedure

Loosen lid slowly – if reaction starts up – back off

and wait.

Repeat until cap is completely removed.

Use razor knife to cut off the top of container.

Scoop out floating lithium strips (don’t push them

to the bottom). Place in mineral oil.

Pour off solvent.

Dispose of sludge.

One Pot Lab evidence

One Pot Lab evidence

(one man’s trash…)

Hydrogenation Labs

Ingredients

Ephedrine Or Pseudoephedrine Or PPA

Hydrogen Gas

Many Different Catalysts Such As Palladium, Raney

Nickel, Phosphorus Pentachloride, Thionyl Chloride,

Acetic Acid, Perchloric Acid

Hydrogenation Setup

Hydrogenation Labs - Hazards

Compressed Hydrogen Gas

Pressurized Glassware

Many Of The Chemicals Used Are Toxic

Common Hazards Of All

Clandestine Labs

Inhalation And Splash Hazards

Strong Acids And Bases

Acid Gas Generators

Organic Solvents

Chemical Contamination

Methamphetamine Cooks

Do Not Know The Chemical Dangers

Do Not Care About The Dangers

Current Trends

About 80% of what our KBI agents are getting is

One-Pot labs.

The other 20% depends on location

Southeast Kansas – mostly Red Phosphorus

Other places in Kansas – traditional Nazi

Controlling Pseudoephedrine

In the previous slides – Law Enforcement/Government targeted the

“tool chemicals”. So the clandestine cooks found new tools.

The common theme in all of these methods is ….

pseudoephedrine.

Pseudoephedrine sale monitoring, limits on the amount sold.

Kansas is just implementing tracking and we have “Stop Sale”.

Oregon has made pseudoephedrine prescription only, and other

states are considering it.

Cleanup Issues

Clean-up has always been a problem. We spent

more time on site dealing with disposal issues

than we did processing the lab.

When law enforcement executes a warrant on a

meth lab, they are considered the generator of the

hazardous waste.

Cleanup Issues

At one time KDHE helped with disposal of the

chemicals. It was done right and in the most

economical way possible. This was a something

that Kansas did very well!

KDHE also made sure that dwellings used as clan

labs were safe before they could be reoccupied.

Cleanup Issues

The DEA used to pay for waste contractors to hall

away clan lab waste. This service for non-DEA

clan labs is no longer available.

This leaves local agencies that seize clan labs in a

really bad situation.

Questions?