POLICE PUT DEALERS ON ICE

Officers Seize $88,000 Worth Of Crystal Meth

Wichita Falls police chiseled off the largest piece of "ice" yet in
the city - but even the biggest bust to date could be just the tip of
the iceberg when it comes to crystal meth cases.

"Ice is something that's starting to show up a lot in our search
warrants," Capt. Manuel Borrego said.

"I honestly believe we're going to get bigger," Sgt. Larry Robinett
said as police displayed almost two dozen plastic bags of drugs seized Monday.

The 21 bags of "ice" - adding up to 21 ounces - have a street value
of $88,000, police said.

"This is a very significant amount," Borrego said.

The largest ice bust ever for Wichita Falls stemmed from "good police
work," he said.

The investigation led to the seizure of the more than 600 grams of
ice - plus other drugs, scales and cash - as well as to the arrests
of two suspects Monday, he said.

One male and one female were arrested on first-degree felony charges
of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance in Penalty Group 1
over 400 grams. They are expected to face formal charges today.

Patrol officers responded to a drug complaint that led investigators
to a vehicle parked in the 4200 block of Kemp Boulevard before noon
Monday, Borrego said.

The Organized Crime Unit was called in, and after further
investigation, a search warrant was obtained. Altogether, police
found the 21 ounces of ice, several hundred dollars worth of ecstasy
pills, scales and almost $13,000 in cash.

Police fanned out a thick stack of bills - including hundreds -
across a table and lined the plastic bags of ice side-by-side.

Crystal methamphetamine is stronger and more pure than the
methamphetamine made in "Nazi" meth labs.

Instead of appearing in a powder form, it's made up of crystals -
Robinett said they look like tiny shards of glass.

Ice is also more expensive than powdered meth, and it produces a more
intense high.

During the past several months, police have seen a lot of it. That
seems to be the case now that a Texas law limits purchases of
products that contain pseudoephedrine - a key ingredient in "Nazi"
meth manufacturing, Borrego said.

"We started to see a large influx of crystal methamphetamine," he said.

Crystal meth is made through a different process than the other type.

"I believe probably this is stuff that's being imported into the
city," Borrego said of the ice.