Clandestine Lab Response Program

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation created its Clandestine Laboratory Response Program in 1988. Although few of these secret drug labs had been discovered in North Carolina at that time, the SBI recognized the growing popularity of these labs in the western United States and anticipated that the problem would soon move east.

To prepare to fight the spread of labs producing dangerous methamphetamine, the SBI trained nearly 60 agents to become clan lab response personnel. This was a part-time assignment in addition to agents' regular duties.

Initial training consisted of a 40-hour OSHA recognized hazardous materials operations course focused on working in toxic drug lab environments. This training was required for the SBI's team to be recognized and certified by DEA to respond to clandestine drug labs.

In addition to the basic 40-hour training, a number of agents assigned to the Clandestine Lab Program attended more advanced hazardous materials training to qualify at the technician level. Other agents in the program attended site safety certification training, which allowed them to work as on-scene site safety officers.

The SBI now has more than 100 agents trained to bust clandestine drug labs, including four full-time agents who are responsible for the technical and safety response of the SBI to these sites. These full-time agents also conduct awareness training for local law enforcement, social service workers and others, and maintain the vehicles and safety equipment needed to respond to lab sites.

SBI clandestine lab response teams include crime scene agents, arson agents, crime lab agents, Special Response Team (SRT) agents, DECU agents, and general field agents.

The SBI currently has specialized clandestine laboratory response vehicles located in Raleigh, Hickory, Burlington, and Sylva. Thanks to a grant from the Governor's Crime Commission, additional response vehicles were added in late 2004.