Two arrests yesterday show the meth problem may be getting closer to home.

While there have been no documented cases of meth labs in the county, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office yesterday arrested and charged two women for the illegal purchase of  pseudoepherine/epherdrine, Lt. Chuck Hasty said in a news release.

Hasty said narcotics Agent Tim Harris conducted an investigation dating back to April of last year. Harris arrested Connie Crews Hux, 42, and Ruby May Holcomb, 64, both of Roanoke Rapids for exceeding the pseudoepherine/ephedrine limits. 

Hux was charged with 13 counts and Holcomb was charged with 16 counts. 

Hux has a $5,000 bond and Holcomb has a $2,500 bond with their court date scheduled for Nov. 4.

Hasty said North Carolina law prohibits the purchase of more than two packages of certain products containing pseudoepherine/ephedrine per day and more than three packages of certain products containing pseudoephedrine/ephedrine within a 30-day period. 

Businesses are required to keep a purchase log of each sale of certain products containing the drugs and must maintain them for two years. Business are required by law to provide this information to law enforcement per request.

These are common substances used to make methamphetamine.

Meth has become a popular drug because it cheaper and has a more potent high, Hasty said in a telephone interview yesterday. Whether the arrests signal there are active meth labs in the county is a matter that remains under investigation, Hasty said.

Methamphetamine starts with the pseudoeherine or ephedrine and other household products are added to make the drug. Some of those products are paint thinner; drain cleaner, anhydrous ammonia, acetone and lithium batteries.