Uptick in metro meth result of cartels

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Meth manufacturing is way up in the Albuquerque metropolitan area, and across New Mexico. Fueling the increase is the fight against drug smuggling at the border with Mexico.

The crackdown on imported meth is a positive thing, but it's also forcing meth manufacturers to become more resourceful and to find other places to cook their product.

This week, District Attorney Kari Brandenburg said the metro area is seeing more meth labs because of the influence of Mexican cartels.

The drug enforcement administration said the number of meth labs in New Mexico more than doubled from 2007 to 2008.

Thousands of people have been killed in border towns like Juarez
because of the crackdown on drugs by Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Law enforcement agencies said a spillover is coming.

"We are pretty ready. We are dealing with a lack of resources across the board and that limits us to some degree. What I have found when we have a lack of resources, we have individuals that step up to the plate and put in 20 or 22 hour days to make it work," Brandenburg said.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano was in Columbus, N.M. on the border Wednesday.

Napolitano has beefed up protection in New Mexico with two border enforcement security, or "best task forces," working as a border patrol intelligence network.

They work with the agents at the crossing, stopping cash and weapons from being sent south to Mexico. They also keep drugs from coming north.

President Barack Obama vowed this week to crack down on drug use. He said his administration is absolutely committed to a working partnership in the war on drugs with the Mexican government.