Communities Across PA Are Increasingly Faced with Meth Use, Increase in Hard to Find Mobile Labs
In Letter to DEA Administrator Casey Call for Technical Assistance to Local Police Departments and Municipalities
Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has sent a letter to Michele Leonhart, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), urging the agency to provide more technical assistance to local police departments across Pennsylvania as they battle meth. From Shickshinny in Northeastern Pennsylvania to Johnstown in Western Pennsylvania, local police departments have been forced to tackle a rise in meth use and a more frequent use of hard to detect mobile meth labs. DOJ technical assistance can take the form of increased consultation and coordination, aid for police departments to raise awareness about the dangers of meth and access to federal government databases about discovered labs across the state.
“Meth is putting a serious strain on families, communities and our police departments in Pennsylvania,” Senator Casey said. “The DEA has incredible resources that need to be leveraged for our local police so that communities can better combat meth use and the increasing use of mobile meth labs.”
The full text of Senator Casey’s letter can be seen below:
Ms. Michele Leonhart
Administrator
Drug Enforcement Administration
U.S. Department of Justice
Dear Ms. Leonhart:
I am writing to you today concerning methamphetamine laboratories in our communities and the need for guidance on combating this serious issue.
Officials in local municipalities have indicated that they have limited means to fight the production of this drug and need help identifying any resources and technical assistance that may be available to them. It is also my understanding that the DEA maintains a national registry of clandestine laboratories throughout the Nation. I ask that you help identify any available resources and urge you to raise awareness about the existence of the registry as a potential method of deterrence.
I look forward to any opportunity to work with you on this very serious issue. If there is any way that I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me, or have the appropriate staff person contact my office. I appreciate your attention to my concerns.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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