ELKHART — Officials in the city of Elkhart say they are very concerned about a recent increase in the number of meth labs, but there is disagreement on what's causing the increase.

"We have seen what I would consider a significant increase in meth labs," said Bill Wargo, the chief investigator with the Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office.
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Wargo says part of the problem is a lack of high grade Mexican methamphetamine. He says narcotics investigators were able to get most of that kind of meth off the streets.

"We made a significant impact on that over the past couple of years, which has now created a situation where the price of meth in Elkhart County has gone from $4,500 a pound to $17,500 a pound."

Wargo says an unfortunate consequence is that more people are making meth locally.

"So what we are seeing is an increase we anticipated. What we didn't see was the increase at the rate it's going currently," said Wargo.

According to the prosecutor's office, at the end of May 2008 there had been eight meth lab busts. From June of 2008 to today there have already been 10 busts.

Wargo also says a decision to remove all six Elkhart police officers from the county's Interdiction and Covert Enforcement (ICE) unit last March could be a factor in the increase.

"I won't say it's the reason for, I will say I think it has compounded the problem."

It was Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore who made that decision, and this week said he has no regrets.

"I'm dissatisfied with the number of meth labs, who wouldn't be? But at the same time I'm feeling pretty good about the fact that we are finding some now and breaking them down, " said Moore.

Moore says the economy isn't helping matters, but he says every city has meth labs, not just Elkhart.

"Our street crime unit is definitely cracking down on meth labs, following all the leads they get," he said.

Bill Wargo says he fears an even greater increase in meth labs.

"Our fear is it's just going to get worse," said Wargo.