Another ammonia theft (Arkcity) {to make meth}

[eppur_se_muova]

Incidents on the rise, officials say
By FOSS FARRAR
Staff Writer
Published: Saturday, December 19, 2009 1:54 PM CST

Two Arkansas City men were arrested Monday night for trying to steal anhydrous ammonia from a tank at Two Rivers Co-op in Geuda Springs, in a case with similarities to one about two months ago, when three Ark City residents were arrested for stealing anhydrous ammonia at the Hackney branch of Valley Co-op.

Anhydrous ammonia is used in the production of methamphetamine, and thefts or attempted thefts are on the rise, a Sumner County sheriff's official said today.
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more: http://www.arkcity.net/articles/2009/12/19/news/city_news/doc4b2bd57a5b650385827940.txt




Holy $#!+ -- these people are doing Birch reductions with lithium in anhydrous ammonia to make meth.

Anh. NH3 is used as fertilizer, and is commonly found on large farms and ag. suppliers. I had heard they were suffering thefts, but didn't know what the use was. NH3 is not only an extreme exposure hazard -- when mixed with air, it becomes a fire/explosion hazard. There have to be MUCH safer ways to make meth, or a reasonable fascimile thereof. Note that the people who are injured in these ammonia thefts tend to be the workers at the facilities, and safety and police officers. If the meth-heads were just killing themselves off I'd be the first to heave a Darwin award in their direction and tell them to go at it. As it is, I'd encourage those farmers to keep their shotguns handy.

[LuvNewcastle]

1. Meth is a huge problem where I live.

It seems like nearly every day there's a meth bust. The cops will squash meth production in one place and they just pop up somewhere else, like Al Qaeda or something. There's talk now that the legislature might ban Sudafed and other medicines like it, thinking that it would make it harder for them to produce meth. Unless neighboring states ban those drugs too, I don't think it will make much difference.

[IADEMO2004]

2. Iowa has a program that puts chastity belts on anhydrous tanks

Cut way down on theft for labs. Mexico pipeline still wide open

[Fumesucker]

3. I don't understand why this is posted in the science forum..

And I damn sure don't understand why it's getting recommended.

It has nothing to do with research or science and everything to do with stupid government policy.

As long as the drug war continues there will be a huge market for illegal drugs and people are going to try to fill that market. This is particularly true in times of precarious economics, like right now.