-from the times-journal-

By Kelly Townsend

Despite another methamphetamine case late last week, officials with the DeKalb County Drug Task Force say the meth labs busts are running about the same as last year.

Through nearly the first half of 2006, authorities have busted 24 labs. In all of last year, 41 were raided; prompting task force commander Darrell Collins to say the overall production of meth labs continues to appear as a steady rate in the county.

“It is pretty much going at the same pace as it did last year,” Collins said.

After a short investigation at a home on County Road 221 in Collinsville, authorities arrested Brian Keith Venable on Thursday.

Venable, 33 of Collinsville, was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

The arrest was made at around 12:05 a.m., after an eighth of an ounce of meth was allegedly found in Venable’s possession, along with various items of drug paraphernalia.

Venable was booked in the DeKalb County jail Thursday morning. Bond has not been set.

In 2005, Collins said he saw a decline in the number of meth labs, but a steady increase in the use of cocaine and marijuana.

“The rise of cocaine and marijuana is something we are continuing to see more of in 2006,” Collins said.

Collins said there were 68 meth labs in 2004, and he believes the reason for the decline has to do with the new pseudoephedrine law that went into affect Aug. 1.

This law restricts the sale of cold and allergy products containing pseudophedrine.

Collins said he also believed some other key arrests and convictions in the county also helped with the decline. He wouldn’t elaborate on specific cases.

Arrests for manufacturing of controlled substance also fell by more than half in 2005, with 43, compared to 103 in 2004.

Arrests for possession of methamphetamine was up to 223 from 209 in 2004.

“I believe these numbers are up because we are seeing more imported meth out of Mexico coming into this area,” Collins said.

Trafficking meth basically stayed the same, with 12 reported arrests in 2005, two less than 2004