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State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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BREAKING NEWS: METH LAB SEIZURES IN DAKOTA COUNTY DOWN 96%
DAKOTA COUNTY, MN - Police seizures of meth labs in Dakota County have gone down a whopping 96% since the legislature passed a law cracking down on the manufacture and use of methamphetamines in Minnesota. An amendment authored by State Representative Joe Atkins made Minnesota’s meth law the toughest in the country. Because of Atkins’ efforts, Minnesota, and Dakota County in particular, have seen a drastic reduction over the last three years in the prevalence of meth labs and meth use. Statewide, Minnesota has seen a 75% drop in meth lab seizures as a result of the new law.
“Meth labs are a ticking time bomb, just waiting to go off," said Rep. Atkins. “We took steps to keep meth ingredients out of the hands of meth cooks, and it’s paying off right here in our backyard.”
According to statistics just released by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office, only 1 meth lab was seized in Dakota County in 2008, compared to 6 in 2007, and 28 before the new law went into effect. Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom commented, “The control over the sales of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine enacted by the Minnesota Legislature in 2005 is one of the main reasons why the number of meth charges and labs have dropped so significantly in our community.”
Fewer meth labs have led to fewer meth arrests in Dakota County as well. About 160 individuals were charged with meth-related felonies in Dakota County in 2008, compared to 330 in 2007. That means meth-related arrests have gone down more than 51% in just one year.
“Meth labs are dangerous in a number of ways,” said Rep. Atkins. “Because they can easily explode, they are dangerous to police officers and investigators. They create hazardous waste. They are difficult and expensive to disassemble. Preventing meth labs in Minnesota is one of the most important pieces of legislation that I have worked on during my time in the legislature.”
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