Deputies in Effingham County say they have arrested eight people and seized four meth labs during a 10-day operation.
The Drug Suppression Unit of the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office executed several search warrants and recovered the labs as well as methamphetamine, pseudeoephedrine and other items used to manufacture meth, said David Ehsanipoor, department spokesman.
Chad Barrs, 40, of Springfield, Leslie Ellie, 53, of Springfield, Christopher Mosely, 37 of Guyton, Wesley Lanier, 34 of Springfield, Jessica Lanier, 37, of Springfield, Melissa Edwards, 42, of Springfield, Dan Edwards, 45, of Springfield, and Tracy Lively, 43, of Springfield, were all arrested on meth-related charges, Ehsanipoor said.
The operation stemmed from a long-term investigation in which investigators targeted those people who had been illegally purchasing pseudoephedrine and providing it to the meth cooks, Ehsanipoor said.
“Over the past year Effingham County has seen a significant decrease in meth labs in the county”, he said. “We credit this to stricter laws prohibiting those who purchase excessive amounts of pseudoephedrine, the communities involvement, and the sheriff’s office’s proactive stance on eradicating dangerous drugs from our community.
“Unfortunately, methamphetamine, along with other drugs, is in every community, but we will not stick our heads in the sand and pretend it does not exist.”
Deputies ask anyone who sees any suspicious activity or has any information of drug activity or any other criminal activity in Effingham County urged to call the sheriff’s office at 912-754-3449.