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CLANDESTINE DRUG LAE RESPONSE PROGRAM HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT PART II. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT A. PR013LEM: Clandestine Drug Laboratories are operating on the Big Island. On October 10, 1997 at 5:30 p.m., 10 Hawaii County police officers executed a search warrant on a residence in Mountain View, in the Puna District. Police had developed inforrnation that a subject was distributing a form of methamphetamine, commonly referred to as "ice" or "batu." During the execution of the search warrant, officers soon realized that the residence was being used as a conversion laboratory for converting the raw methamphetamine to the more refined ice. The Hawaii County Fire Department hazardous material unit responded to the scene. Unfortunately, none of these firefighters specially trained in hazardous materials had any training dealing with clandestine laboratories. The firefighters had no training and the police officers had no equipment. ' In spite of this, the laboratory was dismantled and transported to the Hilo station. The items transported included unknown chemical liquids that were recovered from the site. This liquid was later determined to be methamphetamine. The following day, members from the Honolulu Police Department's Clandestine Laboratory Unit responded to Hilo to assist in the evaluation, proper storage, and recovery of the evidence. These highly trained Honolulu Police Department officers were shocked to learn that our officers had dismantled the laboratory and recovered the toxic chemicals with no "clan lab safety gear." On August 5, 1998, Hawaii County Police Department (HCPD) officers with the assistance of the United Stales Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Honolulu Police Department (HPD) police officers served a search warrant on a residence in Waiakea-Uka. They found a complete processing laboratory for creating methamphetamine from ephedrine tablets and converting the methamphetamine to ice. Clandestine laboratory certified investigators from both the DEA and the HPD had to be flown in to process this lab. We were extremely fortunate in this case to be able to wait for the arrival of both the DEA and Honolulu officers. The next time, we may not be so lucky. On October 20, 1999, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Kalaoa, North Kona, for cystral methamphetamine. Upon entering the residence, officers immediately noticed a strong chemical odor within the dwelling. Upon securing the residence, there was no _ _