NPLEx Database is Helping Law Enforcement Locate Meth Labs
April 18, 2018, The Messenger of Juneau County
EAGLE RIVER, Wis. – A joint investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office led to the discovery of a meth lab in Eagle River on March 30. Two individuals have been charged with multiple felonies as a result of the investigation.
Investigators obtained a search warrant for a home on US Hwy 45 after review of the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx) database revealed individuals residing at the residence had purchased unusual amounts of pseudoephedrine. NPLEx is a real-time electronic log that tracks sales of over-the-counter medications containing pseudoephedrine.
“In its less than six-month existence, NPLEx is already proving its worth,” said Attorney General Schimel. “Through use of NPLEx and strong investigative work, DCI and the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office were able to prevent the production of highly dangerous and addictive drugs. I appreciate the Wisconsin State Legislature giving law enforcement this valuable new tool.”
Vilas County Sheriff investigators conducted a routine review of pharmacy logs on the NPLEx database and discovered that two people had purchased more than the legal amount of pseudoephedrine within a 30-day period from pharmacies around the state. Pseudoephedrine, a common cold ingredient found in some over-the-counter allergy and cold medications can also be illegally used to manufacture methamphetamine in small, home-based labs. The two individuals were also observed buying lithium batteries and cold packs, which are two ingredients that are also used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine in home-based clandestine meth labs.
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