Another meth dump site has been discovered in Sampson County, the third one discovered in the past 16 days.

This time the site was found on Lee’s Chapel Church Road, near the Timothy Road intersection and north of Spivey’s Corner. It was in a ditch.

According to reports released Monday morning by the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy patrolling the area around 4 p.m. noticed the items lying in a ditch and got suspicious. All the items, it was noted, were consistent in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.

The deputy immediately called in the Special Investigations Division and they later identified some of the items found as: used drain cleaner; rubber gloves; a plastic bottle with powdery residue; and pseudoephedrine, among other items.

No other information was released in the case, however, investigators are hoping the public can help them find who is responsible for dumping the items.

“It looks like it is coming back,” said Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton of the sudden increase in meth labs found in the area.

After a crackdown on dealers late last year in ‘Operation Rehab,’ seeing three discarded meth dump sites in Sampson County within a month is something that Thornton is taking very seriously.

“We are being more vigilant and trying to do our best,” he said. “They are doing ‘Shake and Bake’ which is very dangerous, but it can be done in a bottle. Unfortunately it is not going away. It is everywhere.”

While the three dump sites discovered in Sampson County could be just that, a dump site, from someone driving through the county, Thornton says even one is too much.

“If citizens see something suspicious, they need to call us,” he stressed. “We don’t want this in our county, and if we can arrest those individuals involved with it, we will.”

Just 10 days ago, remnants of a meth lab were discovered in the 5000 block of Autryville Road, Autryville; and eight days ago, SID agents arrested two in connection with a meth lab that was discovered in an open field near Faison.

Agents are still hoping to find the citizen’s tip that will lead them to the suspects in Autryville and near Spivey’s Corner. To reach the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office call 910-592-4141; any tip is anonymous.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or email to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.