NPLEx Assists In Drug Arrest
SCIO – A local pharmacy purchase is what led the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office to active meth cooks in Scio on Wednesday night, thanks to The National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx).
NPLEx is a real-time electronic logging system used by pharmacies and law enforcement to track sales of over-the-counter (OTC) cold and allergy medications. Many of these drugs contain pseudoephedrine, which can be used to illegally manufacture methamphetamine. Last month, CVS Pharmacies in West Virginia opted to stop selling medications that contain pseudoephedrine in an attempt to hinder potential meth-makers.
The sheriff’s office was able to execute a warrant and arrest Randall Moon, who had two "shake and bake" one-pot meth labs located in his basement. Moon, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran, lives in his home on East College Street with his wife and three children. He was taken into custody and is being charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, a Class Two felony.
This is not the first time a meth lab has been found in the Scio area. Two individuals were arrested on a meth lab bust at Allensworth Apartments in September of 2013, and in December of last year three people were busted for a meth lab on Mud Run Road, near Bowerston.