"Red Phosphorus" or "Red P" labs require approximately 3½ hours from start to finish. The final product is 80% - 90% pure. "Nazi"( "Ammonia" or "Birch" labs) require approximately 45 minutes from start to finish and the final product is approximately 95% pure. The chemicals and glassware needed in both of these methods is easily obtainable and relatively inexpensive. "Red P" labs seems to dominate Oklahoma but are rapidly being replaced by "Nazi" labs. Both labs are exceptionally dangerous! Both types of labs utilize extremely volatile, explosive, farmable and toxic chemicals.

"Nazi" labs are conducted in just about any place you can imagine because they are very compact and mobile. Hotel rooms, apartments, residences, mobile homes, trailers, storage sheds, barns, and even roadside in pickup trucks and other vehicles.

Extraction

To begin the process, "cooks" as they are called, put ephedrine or pseudoephedrine tablets (obtained from Mini Thins, Max Brand or other over the counter decongestants sold in convenience stores, department stores, pharmacies and truck stops) in a grinder or blender and grind them into powder. This is not necessary but does speed up the process. This powder is then dissolved in a solvent (such as denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, ether, methanol, mineral spirits, etc.) By putting the solvent and the powder in a Mason or Ball jar. These solvents are easily and readily purchased in department stores, paint stores and home improvement stores. The ephedrine or pseudoephedrine will dissolve in the solvent making a milky or opaque liquid. The binders and other undesirable compounds will settle to the bottom of the jar. This ephedrine or pseudoephedrine solution is separated from the binders by using a turkey baster, a sepratory funnel or, most commonly, by pouring the solution through a coffee filter that has been tucked in the opening of another jar. The ephedrine or pseudoephedrine solution will pass through and the binders will be collected as a white sludge in the coffee filter. This sludge has no further use and is normally discarded. The milky or opaque liquid is then poured into a Pyrex dish (glass lasagne pan, casserole dish or pie pan). This glass dish is then placed on a heat source (electric skillet, electric stove top, electric oven, heating pad, etc.) This is done to evaporate the solvent leaving the white powder of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. This powder is the precursor or chemical that will be changed into methamphetamine. This phase is called an Extraction. This is an extremely dangerous stage of the manufacturing process. As the solvent is being evaporated, flammable vapors are released into the atmosphere. Any ignition source such as an open flame, cigarette or electric spark could potentially ignite this flammable atmosphere to the point of flash fire or explosion. Many of the solvents are also extremely carcinogenic. If an officer collecting evidence were to have skin exposure to these solvents there is a substantial potential for future development of cancer.

Reaction

In the next phase, the "cook" will place small pieces of sodium or lithium metal into the dish containing the ephedrine or pseudoephedrine powder. Lithium is the most commonly used catalyst because it is easily obtained from lithium camera batteries. These batteries are literally torn apart, using pliers, to remove the lithium metal strip from inside of the battery. Lithium is an extremely reactive metal that will react violently with water creating heat and explosive hydrogen gas. Lithium will even ignite from the moisture in the air. This type of ignition could potentially detonate the flammable atmosphere created by the earlier evaporated solvents.

The next ingredient is anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is a liquid fertilizer, kept under pressure in tanks and cylinders. Anhydrous ammonia is the only chemical used in the "Nazi" method that can not be purchased at a local store. It is most often stolen from agriculture supply companies and from the storage trailers in the fields. It is most often put into five gallon propane tanks (from home barbeque grills) but is sometimes poured into thermos jugs and coolers. Anhydrous ammonia is extremely cold and contact with the skin could result in immediate frostbite. If anhydrous ammonia makes contact with the eyes it will instantly remove the water from the tissues basically shriveling the the eyes like raisins right in the eye sockets and causing permanent blindness. If inhaled, anhydrous has the same reaction in the mucus linings of the lungs, nasal passages and throat causing severe lung problems and even death.

After placing the pieces of lithium into the powder, anhydrous ammonia is slowly dripped and stirred into the mixture. The chemical reaction that occurs causes the solution to turn dark blue to blackish purple in color. Once all of the powder and lithium is dissolve into the solution of anhydrous ammonia the reaction must be stopped or quenched. This is done by slowly adding water. This is very dangerous because any residual lithium could react violently with the water and cause fire or explosion. Once the reaction is quenched the ammonia is allowed to evaporate off (which occurs fairly rapidly at room temperature). This will leave a thick, white paste in the dish which will consist of methamphetamine base (meth oil), water and impurities.

The "cook" will then pour ether into the dish and stir it into the paste. This mixture is then poured into a mason jar.

Ether is most commonly obtained by turning cans of starting fluid upside down and spraying out the pressure. Once the can has depressurized, holes are punched in the bottom of the can and the ether is poured out into mason jars. Ether is an extremely flammable and explosive chemical. Ether evaporates readily at room temperature and ether vapors could easily concentrate to flammable levels. Ether stored in jars tends to develop crystals between the glass and the jar lid. This crystals have the potential to detonate upon turning the lid to open the jar. This detonation would in turn ignite and detonate the ether contained in the jar. One quart of ether has the explosive potential of one stick of dynamite.

The ether will dissolve the meth oil into solution. The mason jar will contain a double layered liquid. The top layer would be ether with methamphetamine base dissolved into it. The bottom layer would contain water and impurities. These layers are then separated by carefully pouring the top layer into another jar or by using a turkey baster or sepratory funnel to separate the layers. The bottom layer is typically discarded.

Powdering Out

In the final stage, Hydrogen Chloride gas is bubbled into the ether/meth oil solution. The Hydrogen Chloride gas can be purchased at chemical supply stores but is most often made in apparatus called HCl gas generators. These generators are usually made by pouring salt into the bottom of a gas can or garden sprayer. Sulphuric acid (purchased in stores as drain cleaner) is then poured on top of the salt. Muriatic acid (pool cleaner) and bits of aluminum foil can also be used. The gas can is then modified by attaching a long hose. This hose or the hose from the garden sprayer is then placed into the ether solution in the jar. Hydrogen Chloride gas is given off and bubbles through the hose, into the solution. This is particularly dangerous because the acids used can cause severe chemical burns when in contact with skin or eyes. Acid vapors, if breathed, will destroy the linings of the lungs, nasal passages and throat causing permanent damage and/or death. These acid vapors can also reach the blood, through the lungs, and cause severe liver damage.

As the Hydrogen Chloride gas is bubbled into the ether/meth oil solution , meth powder (D-Methamphetamine HCl) will fall or precipitate out of the solution. Eventually the solution will become a thick white paste with a cottage cheese appearance. When this happens, the paste and remaining ether is poured through a coffee filter. The paste is colleted and in the filter and allowed to dry. This is the final product of methamphetamine.