Methods of Drug Manufacturing and Dismantling Grow Ops

Course Overview

Marijuana grows and the manufacture of cannabis, be it Butane Honey Oil, Rosin or bubble hash has become common place in much of todays law enforcement environment. Even though in many jurisdictions, there has been growing legalization for recreational purposes, there are still a huge umber of Black Market” operations that need to e investigated. In other areas, “Grey Market” diversion of marijuana and cannabis has also become a problem.

For those first responders, supervisors and investigators and supervisors tasked with responding to, evaluating and mitigation of these events, this course is designed for you.

The student will receive instruction on the history, current leaps in technology and the future in marijuana grow and cannabis production operations. The basics on the marijuana plant, parts and species will be explained as well as how more THC concentrate produced in greater amounts with in some plants than in others.

Marijuana grow ops will be explored including;  historical “ditch weed” and cartel operations, outdoor gorilla operations , hoop and green house ops, indoor two and three stage grows and the sophisticated equipment used in those operations,

In day two the instructor will identify the various methods to extract cannabis from the marijuana plant. This includes a wide variety of mechanical methods including sifting, bubble hash and rosin production. “Chemical” extraction including butane, hexane, propane and alcohol extraction methods that are common place will be highlighted. The instructor will identify the various hazards to life and limb that ALL of these labs can present.

Who Should Attend

This course is intended for law enforcement personnel who may encounter or be required to investigate, mitigate and dismantle marijuana grow operations or manufacture sites. This is a basic understanding, introduction and first responder assessment class, not designed to provide comprehensive OSHA and Clan Lab/ Hazwoper training and certification. Clandestine Laboratory certification is not required. The course is designed for patrol officers, newer investigators, and supervisors.

Both days will include extensive real world examples and group solving scenarios..

Topics could be interchanged between days based on class audience.

Matthew Shay

Matt Shay is an experienced Narcotics Investigator that has actively been in Law enforcement for 28 years. He began with the City of Phoenix Police Department as an officer in 1995 where he started as a beat officer in downtown Phoenix. He became a Field Training Officer after two years and then a detective with the Drug Enforcement Bureau in 1999. He quickly began to build on his experience in drug investigations, ranging from several major wiretap investigations to street level, hand to hand undercover purchases.

During the Methamphetamine Laboratory crisis of the early 2000’s Detective Shay became certified in Clandestine Laboratory Investigator, Site Safety Supervisor for Clan Labs, Tactical Clandestine Laboratory Entries and advanced Clandestine Laboratory Investigation and Mitigation. He worked undercover with local ATF groups purchasing narcotics and firearms for a year and was assigned to the technical surveillance squad, conspiracy squad and intelligence squad during the 18 years he was assigned to Phoenix Drug Enforcement. He finished his career with the Phoenix Police Department with the Maricopa County Drug Suppression Task Force (MCDST), a HIDTA sponsored investigative group, retiring in 2018.

Within hours of taking his retirement from Phoenix Police Department, Matt was sworn in as a deputy with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and assigned as an investigator in their Special Investigations Division. He resumed working with the MCDST task force and was also assigned a single purpose narcotic K-9 who is his partner to this day. Matt has had the opportunity to lead investigations into a wide assortment of clandestine laboratories that have run the gambit from Solvent Based Cannabis Extraction and Marijuana grow ops to Fentanyl manufacture and pill press operations.

As a certified instructor since 1997, Detective Shay has taught a wide variety of topics at numerous Arizona law enforcement and fire academies, local and regional training conferences, national narcotic enforcement organizations, Arizona State colleges, and is regularly requested as an instructor on specific disciplines for several local and federal agencies.

Detective Shay is utilized by (MCSO) as a media spokesperson for many of the Narcotics topics and regularly provides prevention presentations for local and national groups including HIDTA, MATFORCE and the Arizona Governor’s Office.

Host: POLICE TECHNICAL

Location: Online Seminar 647 Ohio Street Online Seminar, 47807 Get Directions

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