Task Force: Meth labs on the rise

GREENE COUNTY, Ohio (WDTN) - Meth cases are on the rise in Greene County, according to drug officials.

The ACE Task Force made its seventh meth bust of the year Tuesday after making 11 busts all of last year. Three years ago the task force made only one bust.

The task force made its latest bust while the suspect, Noel Mangan, was plowing his fields, but officials say he was also harvesting something much more dangerous.

"He's a major meth dealer and a major problem here," says ACE Task Force Director Bruce May.

Task Force members say they've been investigating Mangan for the last few months after getting tips he'd been making and selling meth.

Officials wanted to stop him before something more tragic did.   

"It's very dangerous," May says. "The type of method he's been doing, it could blow up. It's blown up before in houses in Greene County. It's harmed a lot of people."

A neighbor 2 NEWS talked with says she had no idea about the danger next door. She described Mangan as a nice guy who kept to himself.

"I thought you never know where it happens, but it surprised me," Rita Howard says.

Task force members say they may end up charging others in this case as well, as they try to dry up the growing crop of meth labs in the county.

"It's not starting out well for us for methamphetamine labs," May says.

2 NEWS discovered this isn't Mangan's first time facing drug charges.

He was found not guilty by a jury in 2009 on a charge of Illegal Assembly or Possession of Chemicals for the Manufacture of Drugs.