Red Phosphorous Methamphetamine Labs

By Detective Kurt Short, Lawton Police Department

As discussed in the previous issue of the AONE Journal by Detective David Schucker, clandestine methamphetamine labs are a dangerous problem for all of Law Enforcement and the communities that they are found in. The new methods of cooking methamphetamine are quick and easy to do and the methamphetamine that is produced by either of them is relatively pure. The types of cooks encountered by Law Enforcement officers varies depending on geographic location. In Western Oklahoma, the preferred method seems to be the "Nazi" or Anhydrous method. In Eastern Oklahoma, the preferred method seems to be the Red Phosphorous or "Red P" cook. Another factor in the different methods used is how the cook was taught. If the cook was taught to do the process a certain way, he or she will most assuredly do the cook the same way. The old method of producing methamphetamine has gone by the wayside, not only because of the difficulty in obtaining the chemicals required, but also because of the length of time required to cook the old way and the relative purity of the final product of the new methods.

There are several different ways of cooking using the red phosphorous method. It can be done without or without outside heat, as the reaction itself is exothermic, or it will create it's own heat. To speed the process most cooks will use some sort of outside heat source. Using a heat source, the cook can be done in 3 ½ to 4 hours. The heat source is only one of the hazards that will be present in a red phosphorous lab. The red phosphorous method also causes Phosphine gas to be produced. As few as 5 parts per million can be lethal in one exposure to Phosphine gas. The additional hazard of Phosphine gas is that it cannot be processed by the human body. Therefore if exposed to only one part per million during a lab investigation, that one part per million of Phosphine gas will remain in you body. Then next time you are exposed to Phosphine gas, the parts per million in your body will be increased. With repeated exposures, a person will eventually reach the fatal level of 5 parts per million.

Extraction

As with the "Nazi" or "Anhydrous" method of cooking methamphetamine, the process begins with an extraction of pseudoephedrine or ephedrine. This is done by placing the pseudo/ephedrine tablets in a blender and grinding them into a powder. The grinding of the tablets only speeds up the extraction process and is not a necessary step. The powder or tablets are then placed into some type of solvent, such as denatured alcohol(commercially available in most hardware stores), methanol("HEET",a gas line antifreeze), ether(starting fluid) or isopropyl alcohol(rubbing alcohol). These ingredients are most commonly placed into a glass jar of some type, such as a Mason jar. The solvents will cause the binders in the tablets or powder to settle to the bottom. The pseudo/ephedrine will be dissolved into the solvent, which will be in the top, liquid layer of the solution. The solution is then poured through some sort of filter paper, most commonly a coffee filter into another container. The binder material will be left in the filter and the pseudo/ephedrine solution will pour through the filter into the other container. This process can also be done by placing the powder into a coffee filter and the placing the filter into an automatic drip coffee maker. The water is poured into the coffee maker and the coffee maker heats the water. As with the process described above, the binders will be left in the filter and the pseudo/ephedrine will be dripped into the coffee pot. The binder material left in the filters are of no further use and are often discarded. This can be an important clue to investigators during "Trash Runs".

Once the pseudo/ephedrine solution has been filtered, the liquid will be evaporated out. This is usually done by placing the liquid solution into a glass dish of some sort and the dish is then placed on a heat source. The liquid is then heated and evaporated leaving only the pseudo/ephedrine. This can also be done be placing the liquid solution into an electric skillet and the liquid is then boiled off.

This portion of the process is often referred to as an extraction. During this stage, as with the "Nazi" or "Anhydrous" method, there are many hazards present. The most prevalent hazard will be from the solvents that are used, most of which are extremely flammable, and the exposure of these solvents to a heat source. When the solvents are evaporated, they release fumes into the existing atmosphere. The heat source, becomes an ignition source for these fumes. The slightest spark could easily ignite these fumes creating an explosion or a flash fire. There exist another hazard from the solvents also. Most of the solvents used are carcinogens and exposure to the bare skin of an investigator could potentially lead to cancer.

Reaction

This is next phase of the cook and is also where this method differs from the "Nazi/Anhydrous" method. The pseudo/ephedrine is combined with Red Phosphorous and Iodine Crystals in some type of reaction vessel. The reaction vessel could be something as extravagant as a triple neck flask, a large wine jug or something as simple as a plastic bottle from a beverage. This step of the process is also where a cook will either use a heat source or allow the reaction to cook itself.

Iodine Crystals are easily obtained through some local CO-OP's or through a horse shoeing supplier. If not able to obtain the crystals this way, the cook can make the crystals them selves by combining tincture of iodine with hydrogen peroxide. This mixture will cause the iodine in the tincture solution to crystalize and settle to the bottom. Iodine crystals are extremely toxic to the human body, and exposure to them can lead to liver damage or even liver failure.

Red Phosphorous is also commercially available, however is has been placed on the precursor list, and is now regulated. However, the cooks, being ingenious as they are, can obtain the red phosphorous from the striker plates of match books or from road flares. These striker plates are combined with alcohol in a large jar. The red phosphorous dissolves into the alcohol. The alcohol is then evaporated and red phosphorus powder remains. Red phosphorous is extremely flammable. If overheated, it will more readily produce toxic amounts of phosphine gas. The hazards of phosphine gas have already been discussed. Also if heated to extremes, it will convert to yellow or white phosphorous. White phosphorous is the material that is used in incendiary weapons that are used by the military and is even more flammable than red phosphorous. White phosphorous burns when in contact with air. Both yellow and white phosphorous are pyrophoric or self igniting.

If allowed to cook itself, the mixture can be done in the plastic bottle described previously or a simple insulated sport cup. A hole is cut into the side of the bottle or sport cup and a plastic tube is then attached to the container, either with some type of adhesive or even duct tape. A plastic tube is then attached to the top of the container and also sealed with adhesive or tape. Another container, is then filled with some type of filter paper, such as toilet paper or paper towels. A similar hole is cut into the second container, and the tubing is attached to the hole and also to the top, as with the first container. The mixture will begin to cook itself, as this is an exothermic reaction. Even without an outside heat source, this reaction does produce phosphine gas. Once the reaction begins, the byproducts will be passed onto the second container with the filter paper. The methamphetamine will be produced in the first container. Once the reaction is complete, the second container is sealed and discarded, along with all of its hazardous contents. If the "Cold Cook" method is used it can take up to sixteen hours.

If a heat source is used, the mixture is heated to speed up the reaction and can be done in as little as 3 ½ hours. As discussed before, the reaction vessel can be a triple neck flask, or even a crock pot. If heated, most cooks will use some type of condenser tube, whether it be home made or commercially purchased. The condenser tube, allows the vapors from the reaction to be cooled. Once cooled the vapors settle back into the reaction. This also prevents some of the hazardous vapors from escaping into the atmosphere. In addition, if heated the temperature must be cautiously regulated, to prevent the mixture from overheating and causing the production of toxic levels of phosphine gas or converting the red phosphorous to convert to yellow or white phosphorous.

Once the reaction is complete, the reaction vessel is allowed to cool. When the reaction mixture is cool, it is then filtered. The liquid filtrate contains the methamphetamine. The red sludge that is left over is simply left over red phosphorous and this can be reused in further cooks. The methamphetamine liquid is now, however, and acid, and must be converted to a base. This is done by slowly adding a solution of sodium hydroxide(commercially available as "Red Devil" lye or "Drano"). The sodium hydroxide solution is added until the mixture reaches a pH level above 10. This process generates heat, so therefore caution must be used in doing this. When this portion of the reaction is complete, a two layer liquid will form. The top yellowish colored liquid contains the methamphetamine base. The mixture is then "washed with a solvent, most commonly ether is used. Ether is a highly flammable liquid and easily evaporates. If improperly stored, the ether can form crystals around the container, and the crystals are easily detonated. If the ether is allowed to evaporate into a confined space, the fumes have the potential for a deadly flash fire. The saranex coated tyvek suits that are worn by investigators will literally melt in an instant. This is why "Nomex" should be worn under the lab suits.

The two layer liquid is then separated. This can be done using a separatory funnel or something as simple as a turkey baster. Some cooks who are unable to obtain a commercially produced separatory funnel will improvise and make their own, using an object as common as an ice tea jug, with a spigot on the bottom. The bottom layer of the liquid is poured off and discarded. If a turkey baster is used, the top layer is siphoned off, and the bottom layer is still discarded. All that is left at this point is "powdering out."

Powdering Out

This is the last portion of the process and is the same process that is used during the "Nazi/Anhydrous" method. This is done by bubbling hydrogen chloride gas through the ether/methamphetamine solution. Hydrogen Chloride gas is commercially available, or it can me made by the cook. A cook simply combines rock salt and sulfuric acid, or strips of tinfoil and muriatic acid in a container. A plastic gas can or a lawn sprayer is most often used. Sulfuric acid is easily obtained at most hardware stores and is sold as a drain cleaner. Muriatic acid is also available at hardware stores and also swimming pool supply stores. Muriatic acid is a concrete cleaner when used for it's original purpose.

The gas can is easily converted to a HCL generator by attaching a plastic tube or hose to it. The rock salt and sulfuric acid or muriatic acid and tin foil strips are then combined in the container. A common lawn sprayer can also being used, which also allows the use to contain the reaction by closing the valve on the hose of the lawn sprayer. Once the ingredients are combined in the container, the reaction will begin almost immediately. Hydrogen Chloride gas is then produced. Hydrogen Chloride gas is yet another hazard present in a clandestine lab. The acids used to make HCL gas are extremely dangerous and will cause burns to bare skin or the eyes on contact. The HCL gas produced will cause damage to the linings of the lungs, nasal passages and throat. This may even lead to death.

The HCL gas is then introduced to the ether/methamphetamine solution via the tubing on the gas can or the nozzle of the lawn sprayer. As the HCL is bubbled into the solution, a powder will begin to precipitate out of the solution and settle to the bottom. As the reaction continues the solution will thicken into a white paste like matter. Once the reaction is complete the tubing from the gas can or the nozzle of the lawn sprayer is removed. As mentioned before, if a lawn sprayer is used, one simply closes the valve on the nozzle and the reaction in the lawn sprayer is contained. This does not, however, stop the reaction. The HCL gas will continue to be produced until all of the ingredients are used. This a potentially hazardous situation, as the lawn sprayer may burst and all of it's contents allowed to spill out and the HCL gas to escape into the atmosphere.

After the powder has been formed in the solution, the solution is then filtered. Again this can be done with coffee filters, or through a commercially available filter paper. The filter papers are often discarded after all of the methamphetamine has been removed. As with the other filter papers from the earlier process, the discarded papers can be a vital clue for an investigator. The methamphetamine is allowed to dry and you have D-Methamphetamine HCL that is 80%-90% pure.

Methamphetamine labs are extremely dangerous and are a Haz-Mat situation. The EPA and OSHA have even gotten involved in the regulations for persons who are allowed to enter a meth lab and how it is to be disposed of. If you encounter a Clandestine Methamphetamine Laboratory, and are not trained and certified to be there, GET OUT!!! Close off the area and do not allow untrained persons to enter. Call your nearest DEA office, the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, or the OSBI. Thanks to the DEA, many local officers have been properly trained and equipped to handle a meth lab, so check around your area and see if they are able to assist also.

As you can see, there are many ways to produce methamphetamine. The new methods are relatively easy and are very fast, as compared to the old P2P method. This has caused the rapid spread of Methamphetamine labs. A person no longer has to smuggle the chemicals or the Methamphetamine from out of state. They can simply purchase all of the ingredients to make it almost anywhere, and even more frightening, actually cook the methamphetamine anywhere. This can include the back of a pick up truck, the house next to your home or the hotel room that you and your family are staying in.