Home

Press Releases

Most Wanted

Meth Lab Locations

Community Network

Get Educated

Above and Beyond

Statistics

Methamphetamine

Links

FAQ

About Us

Contact Us

Investigations Initiated

The first four years of this graph depict the cases initiated by the detectives assigned to the North Metro Task Force. Starting in 1995 the graph depicts not only the cases initiated by the detectives but it also includes the case filings forwarded to the North Metro Task Force by the patrol division of each participating agency. During the reporting period 02/03, there were six hundred and seventy-six (676) total cases initiated. Of those cases, patrol officers generated three hundred and seventy seven (377) and two hundred and ninety nine (299) were generated by NMTF. During this reporting period 03/04, there were eight hundred and twenty-six (826) total cases initiated. Of those cases, four hundred and fifty-five (455) were initiated by patrol and three hundred and seventy-one (371) by NMTF detectives. That is a 22% increase in case investigations during this reporting period and a 24% increase in cases initiated by NMTF detectives. During this reporting period the number of meth labs decreased from 69 labs seized in 02/03 to 45 labs seized in 03/04. In 02/03 the number of labs had a significant impact on the detective’s ability to generate self-initiated undercover drug investigations. When the lab seizures were reduced, detectives were able to generate more self-initiated cases.

Arrests and Investigations

This graph depicts the efforts of the North Metro Task Force in holding drug users, distributors and manufacturers accountable for their actions. This is an increase of 26% from last year. Though the methamphetamine drug labs seized each year still have a major impact on the detectives’ ability to generate self-initiated undercover drug investigations, it has not reduced the number of arrests made during this reporting period. Due to the reduction of labs, detectives were able to increase the number of arrests made in self initiated investigations, thus resulting in the highest number of arrests in task force history.

Cocaine Seized

This graph depicts the amount of cocaine seized during this reporting period in Kilograms. During this reporting period the Task Force did not make any large quantity one-time seizures in this category. The Task Force continues to see more availability of methamphetamine and its production rather than cocaine.

Methamphetamine Seized

This graph depicts the amount of methamphetamine seized in Kilograms. Methamphetamine continues to be the biggest problem with 45 lab seizures during this reporting period and the seizure of 14.23 kilograms of methamphetamine. At this time, it is difficult to measure the amount of methamphetamine that would have been manufactured in the labs seized. Also, this does not include the methamphetamine that is still in solution during the manufacturing process that has yet to be “salted out”.

Crack Cocaine Seized

This graph depicts the amount of crack cocaine seized in Kilograms. As in past years, the seizure of crack cocaine is rare in Adams County jurisdictions. During this reporting period there were several cases that made up the .084 kg of crack recovered.

Heroin Seized

This graph depicts the amount of heroin seized in Kilograms. As in past years, the seizure of heroin is rare in Adams and Broomfield County. Last year saw the most significant increase as compared to the prior two years. During the 99/00 reporting period there were 5 heroin investigations that resulted in the .79 kilograms seized. In 2000/2001 there was only .07 kg seized, .03 kg seized in 2001/2002 and .45 kg in 2002/2003 of heroin seized in numerous cases. This year was similar to 99/00 and 00/01, with only .092 kg of heroin seized.

Marijuana Seized

This graph depicts the amount of marijuana seized in pounds. During 2000/2001 the task force reported it’s largest quantity of marijuana seized in a year. During that reporting period the North Metro Task Force worked several significant marijuana investigations, which included four joint operations with other task forces. All of these together resulted in a 288% increase in marijuana seizures from the previous year. One case in particular was the seizure of 2,500 lbs. while assisting Denver PD with surveillance on a truck coming in from Mexico. The marijuana was packed in pound quantities in false walls of the truck. In another assist with Denver, 762 lbs. of marijuana was discovered in Arvada behind false walls and in a hidden storage area under the floor. Detectives also discovered an underground bunker the size of half a football field in Weld County. Since that time, the amount of marijuana seized has decreased significantly, however, this year there was a significant increase over the two previous years. Last year the task force seized 157 pounds of marijuana and this year the task force seized 881 pounds. The last time the task force seized this much marijuana was in 95/96 and 96/97.

Seizures (Estimated Value)

This graph reflects an erratic pattern of seizures over the course of the project and the consistent decrease in seizures due to the rapid rise of methamphetamine drug labs and the lack of seizures involved in those cases.

Forfeitures and Actual Project Income

Productivity in this area can be correlated to seizures and is subject to the same patterns. As indicated above, the filing agency or task force reports seizures; therefore actual project income and forfeiture money received will vary. In this graph forfeitures are the monies received before any disbursements are made to other agencies, the District Attorney’s Office or other cost associated with the property or currency seized (i.e. towing, advertisement, auction). The Actual Project Income is the remaining money after disbursements and the money received from other agencies the North Metro Task Force assisted on an investigation. With the forfeiture law change in July 2002, the amount of money forfeited is now divided with drug treatment providers, therefore there was a significant decrease in the amount of project income received by the task force starting in the second half of last years grant-reporting year. There are no stats in this category prior to 94/95.

Hours of Training

The hours of training depicted in this graph are the totals reported over the last ten years. If detectives from the North Metro Task Force provided 8 hours of training to a group of people, the hours were marked as 8 hours. If several detectives attended an 8-hour training course the hours were recorded as 8 times the number of detectives who attended the training (i.e. if 5 detectives attended the hours are recorded as 40 hours).

Number of Persons Trained

The numbers of people trained depicted in this graph are the totals reported over the last twelve years. The graph at the bottom of the page is an actual break down of the number of people trained during this grant period and who the training was provided by. During this reporting period, the Task Force made numerous presentations on Drug Endangered Children throughout the state. Several of these training sessions had hundreds of people in attendance. This accounts for the 1,042 trained persons (employees and citizens) within our community. The “First Responder Operations Course” accounts for another 68 patrol officers and firefighters being trained and is listed with this category in addition to our in-house detective training is another reason for the large increase over the last year in the Peer assistance/experienced practitioners category. Additionally, the supervisors and detectives at the Task Force have made numerous presentations to the community on the dangers of methamphetamine labs.

Methamphetamine Laboratories

This graph depicts the number of methamphetamine labs seized starting in 94/95 when the Task Force started tracking this category. Between 1996 and 1999 the majority of labs discovered were from proactive enforcement. Over the last three years, patrol officers responding to other calls for service are still the number one reason a majority of the labs are discovered. This is the first time the number of labs seized has been lower then those seized 2000/2001. Last year we saw the first signs of labs decreasing in our area, but the numbers were still significantly high. The impact on detectives is still significant even with the decrease, however detectives are able to be more proactive. Detectives are hearing from the arrestees that it is getting more and more difficult to find the ingredients necessary to manufacture methamphetamine. We are watching for new trends in the manufacturing processes and trying to determine if the manufacturers are using different ingredients. NMTF detectives have been educating the business establishments in both Adams and Broomfield Counties and making them aware of the merchandise in their store that is commonly used to manufacture methamphetamine. All of the stores contacted have been extremely cooperative and some have even removed some of the items from their shelves and posted signs advising the consumer to contact management if they want the product. The task force has had several arrestees state that there is some fear among the “cooks” in Adams and Broomfield Counties, because of the aggressive response to meth labs in the community. Several users advised detectives that the price of methamphetamine is actually higher in Adams and Broomfield Counties.