MUNCIE – Here’s some news that likely comes as little surprise: Delaware County, by an overwhelming margin, led the Hoosier state in the number of meth labs discovered in the first six months of 2015.
While Indiana State Police generally release meth-lab stats every four months — most recently those covering January though April — local law enforcement officials last week received a mid-year update that showed 119 meth labs had been documented in Delaware County as of June 30.
By comparison, the county with the second highest total in 2015, Noble in northern Indiana, had 35 meth labs through June. Eight other counties, none in East Central Indiana, had as many as 20.
As of April 30, Delaware County’s meth lab total stood at 68.
As recently as 2010, ISP stats reflected only seven labs were found in Delaware County. That total increased to 12 in 2011, than ballooned to 62, third highest in the state, in 2012.
In 2013, 109 meth labs were reported in Delaware County, second highest in the state. The county reached the top spot in 2014, with 148 labs, and seems certain to retain that dubious distinction this year.