Train Management Staff to Recognize Drug Operations
The manufacture of methamphetamines in apartment communities if becoming more common each year. Makeshift meth labs are discovered with increasing frequency in apartment communities, and the residual effects on the property can be devastating.
In some cases, apartments that are used as drug labs become so toxic that demolition is required.
Management should take specific steps to train staff in the recognition of potential drug labs. These steps include:
- Focus on training the maintenance staff. It is maintenance personnel who are most likely to enter apartments for work or inspections and they need to know how to recognize potential drug manufacturing or sale. Staff should be told to look for warning signs, but not to search for evidence. Searching a resident’s apartment could be an invasion of privacy and should be left to law enforcement with appropriate warrants.
Staff should look for signs of drug activity that are in “plain view.” There should be no opening drawers, closets, or looking under beds. An example of “plain view” would be a scale or bags filled with a white powdery substance on a kitchen counter.
- Distribute a list of warning signs of drug sales and manufacturing. Such a list should include:
>Blacked-out windows: People committing crimes in their homes often put up material such as tin foil or black trash bags on their windows to prevent others from seeing in;
>Grow lights: If a unit is filled with special high-intensity lights, known as “grow lights,” this can be a sign that the person living there is growing marijuana;
>Odors: Almost all drug manufacturing produces an odor. Sometimes the odor can be extremely foul smelling, and even dangerous. The growth of marijuana plants inside a unit gives off a strong, sweet-smelling odor. The manufacture of methamphetamine creates a very strong, pungent odor, described as similar to urine, ether, or ammonia. The heating of crack cocaine often produces a smell similar to the smell of burning electrical wires;
>”Chemistry” setups: Meth and other drugs produced in crystal form are usually produced with what may resemble an old chemistry set. Look for items like glass beakers, hot plates, glass cookware, funnels, coffee filters, and plastic tubing. These items will often be set up on bathroom or kitchen countertops, near water sources and drains;
>Large amount of chemicals: These chemicals could include antifreeze, camp stove fuel, gasoline, or ether;
>Many packages of cold pills: These pills contain ephedrine, and are used to manufacture meth. A few packs of cold pills are nothing to be concerned about, but if staff sees tens or hundreds of packs lying around, drug manufacturing is highly likely;
>Baby food jars with milky liquid inside: People who produce crack cocaine often cook and store the drug in baby food jars;
>Large quantities of baking soda: This is used to make crack cocaine and small, empty bags of junk food are often used to hide drugs;
>Weight scales and packaging materials: A common sign of drug selling is the presence of a weight scale and large amounts of small plastic bags for packaging of the drugs;
>Plumbing alterations: Drug manufacturers will sometimes remove the fixtures in a sink or even remove a toilet completely to use the water pipes. Exposed pipes in a kitchen or bathroom may be a sign of drug manufacturing;
>Deadbolt locks or hasps or doors: This may be a sign of illegal drug activity; and
>Stained walls, windows, or carpets: The manufacture of drugs -especially meth – can leave mustard-colored stains on walls and ceilings and dark brown or orange stains on carpets. It can also leave burgundy colored stains on aluminum windows.
- Tell staff what to do if drug activity is suspected. It should be immediately reported to upper management, who should then seek legal advice on how to proceed. Although the presence of these signs may indicate drug activity, they could also be legitimate – especially if just one of the indicators is present.
In short, staff should be aware of the signs of illegal drug activity. This higher level of awareness can assist in preventing illegal activity at your property and protect the value of the property for the owner.