Many people may be unaware that they’re living near a meth lab. Meth labs turn up in houses, barns, apartments, trailers, campers, cabins and motel rooms – even the backs of pickups. The equipment for a meth lab can be as small as to fit in a duffel bag, a cardboard box or the trunk of a car.

Many people may be unaware that they’re living near a meth lab. Meth labs turn up in houses, barns, apartments, trailers, campers, cabins and motel rooms – even the backs of pickups. The equipment for a meth lab can be as small as to fit in a duffel bag, a cardboard box or the trunk of a car.

Here are some things to look for in identifying a meth lab:

* Unusual, strong odors (like cat urine, ether, ammonia, acetone or other chemicals).Residences with windows blacked out.

*Renters who pay their landlords in cash. (Most drug dealer’s 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; including different vehicles arriving and staying for short periods of time.

*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.

*Windows blacked out or covered by aluminum foil, plywood, sheets, blankets, etc.

*Secretive / protective area surrounding the residence (like video cameras, alarm systems, guard dogs, reinforced doors, electrified fencing).

*Persons exiting the structure to smoke

*Little or no mail, furniture, visible trash and no newspaper delivery.

Presence of the following common supplies includes:

• Medication containing pseudoephedrine

• Plastic tubing, funnels

• Coffee filters

• Camp stove fuel

• Acetone, alcohol, starter fluid, or toluene

• Iodine

• Lithium batteries

• Hydrochloric acid and lye

• Matchbooks or flares

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