FARGO - Drug busts are becoming increasingly dangerous for authorities because dealers are using more surveillance equipment, police say.

Narcotics agents here discovered a camera and police radio detector before making a methamphetamine arrest on Wednesday night. The equipment was disabled before the suspect was apprehended, Sgt. Ross Renner said.

"We're seeing this equipment more and more," Renner said Thursday. "It becomes an issue relating to larger dealers such as this case, not so much on the occasional user."

Most of the surveillance equipment is readily available and easy to use, Fargo Police Chief Chris Magnus said.

"You don't have to be all that sophisticated either in terms of what you know or the equipment that's available," he said. "That is of concern to us … but whatever they can do, we can do better."

The equipment is used by dealers so they can get rid of evidence or defend themselves, Magnus said.

"Whether it's flushing it down the sink or the toilet as quickly as possible or whether it's in some cases defending their property through the use of firearms … these are all realities that our tactical team and our officers have to deal with," he said.

In Wednesday's case, a 43-year-old woman was arrested for possession of meth with intent to deliver. Police recovered more than 3 ounces of meth with a street value of about $18,600.

The suspect was part of investigation into "larger amounts of meth" that was sold in the area, police said.

"Obviously she's involved in some pretty significant trafficking based on what we were able to confiscate with the search warrant," Magnus said.

Her residence was located within 1,000 feet of a school, making the case more serious, Sgt. Todd Osmundson said.

"There's a lot of children who are in danger of being inside homes that create meth," Osmundson said. "That's created a whole new arena."

Meth-related cases for Fargo police increased from 220 in 2003 to 340 in 2004, Magnus said.

Fargo police are planning a community program in February to show residents what they can do to help fight the problem.