PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -
A record number of meth labs popping up in New York has prosecutors calling for tougher penalties.
Police have broken down 89 meth labs so far this year. The previous record was 73. Cooking the highly explosive drug is considered simple since the ingredients are common household products. Meth gives a powerful high that can last for 12 hours. Prosecutors say since taking the ingredients off the shelf won't be possible, the only way to stop the up tick is for the legislature to increase the penalties. Right now people caught cooking the drug only face 2.5 years in prison.
"The consequences of those in the building, the neighbors, the neighborhoods -- it's just outrageous, so we will do whatever it takes to put these people behind bars and keep them behind bars and to stop this illegal activity in our neighborhoods. Our families and children -- we can't stand for it and we are not going to," said Assemblywoman Janet Dupre (R-Peru)
Breaking down the labs isn't only dangerous but also costs up to 10-thousand dollars per lab.
