A.V. METH LABS DECLINE OFFICIALS CREDIT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LAKE LOS ANGELES - Fewer methamphetamine laboratories are being discovered in the Antelope Valley, narcotics investigators say.

Investigators attribute the drop to tougher laws restricting the sale of methamphetamine ingredients, coupled with help from valley citizens in reporting labs.

``We've had a definite decrease in labs found,'' said sheriff's deputy Tom Holeman, an investigator with the North County Clandestine Lab Task Force. ``We attribute this to a pretty intense word getting out that this is taken seriously. That, coupled with increased restrictions on the availability of chemicals, and we're starting to see a positive effect. All this means is that we just have to work harder to find the labs and that's a good thing.''

From August 1998 through 2000, investigators busted 145 methamphetamine labs in the Antelope Valley. Since January, investigators have found only two, Holeman said.

Investigators will talk about their results Thursday at a Rural Watch meeting in Lake Los Angeles. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Vista San Gabriel School auditorium at 180th Street East and Avenue O.

Investigators plan to show at the meeting a Lake Los Angeles-area map marked with 25 pins, each denoting a meth lab discovery from 1998 through 2000.

``We can now discuss things that we haven't been able to release before because of ongoing investigations,'' Holeman said. ``We believe in a strong community awareness. I would say most of those pins are due to community involvement.''

One of the biggest busts came Dec. 15 with the arrest of Paula Martinez, 44, of Lake Los Angeles, who investigators said acted as a broker in helping others set up methamphetamine labs.

A yearlong investigation, dubbed Paula's Kitchen, identified at least 10 methamphetamine labs seized in Los Angeles and Kern counties that might be linked to Martinez.

Methamphetamine seized in the investigation had a street value of nearly $5 million.

Investigators said the operation was a success because of the cooperation of several other agencies from Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

Holeman said the 60 square miles around Lake Los Angeles is the most active area for methamphetamine labs in the Antelope Valley.

Five labs were discovered there from August 1998, when the task force started work, through the end of that year. Thirteen were busted in 1999 and seven in 2000.

The area stretches from Avenue J to Palmdale Boulevard and from 140th through 240th Streets East.

Holeman said he wants residents to know what goes on during those busts and the serious dangers the labs present.

The meeting is open to anyone who wants to attend and is free.

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Photo:

(color) Sheriff's deputy Dan Burdick shows a map of meth labs discovered in and around Lake Los Angeles. Officials credit a recent decline in the number of drug labs found in the area to community involvement.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer