KEOKUK, IOWA -- Since January 1, 2011, the Lee County Iowa Narcotics Task Force has taken down 43 meth labs. That puts Lee County second in the state of Iowa only behind Dubuque as to the number of labs taken down this year. Meth cooking is on the rise because of the one pot method that is now being used. Keokuk Police Chief Tom Crew said this shake and bake method is very dangerous not only to the cook but also to the general public.

"Yes it's not uncommon for these people, wherever they're comfortable and living, that's where they'll do it. They have no regard for their own safety let alone the public or other residents in a building. We're finding them in buildings that are occupied by children and other neighbors and things like that. We've had explosions in our local hotel."

The chief says one of the task forces recent bust was along Avenue H in Fort Madison. He says the cook had 86 bottles that had been used to make meth. Each bottle means that's when the cook made a batch of the illegal drug. Crew says that's just an example of what a person can do by using the shake and bake one pot method.

Crew says local retailers and the local task force have developed a good line of communication. He says there's hardly a day that goes by that one call isn't made to the police about someone who might be trying to buy ingredients to make meth. He says because of those calls, the police are able to track and intercept those people who might be on their way to cook a batch of the illegal drug.