It was déja vu for Duplin County Sheriff’s deputies who responded to an area residence regarding a possible meth lab Monday — and possibly for those arrested.

Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace said information was received of possible meth activity at 356 Carrolls Road and deputies, upon arriving, discovered several toxic components of the lab.

“We were familiar with the resident,” said Wallace, noting that Seth Ellis Smith, of the home, had been taken into custody under similar circumstances in 2005.

Smith, 33, of 356 Carrolls Road, Warsaw, and another man at the home at the time, Timothy Erik Henderson, 29, of 116 Hicks St., Faison, were each charged with possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a vehicle, dwelling or place for the storage of a controlled substance and manufacturing methamphetamine.

Each was also charged with three counts of possession and distribution of a meth precursor.

Wallace said pseudoephedrine, lithium and anhydrous ammonia were all seized from the home. “There was also a small amount of methamphetamine found in the residence,” the sheriff remarked.

The sheriff described the Carrolls Road property as belonging to Smith’s family and consisting of a brick home with three metal sheds behind it. Smith was living in one of those sheds, which was revamped into a makeshift “pool house.”

Wallace noted that both Smith and Henderson have felony drug convictions against them and, more coincidentally, in meth investigations.

“Both have previous convictions in meth-related cases,” he said.

Smith was recently released after serving time in a separate meth case, while Henderson has other pending meth charges to go with those brought Monday.

He added that Henderson was linked, and subsequently charged, with a meth lab discovered in Faison in 2007. He also has a pending charge in Johnston County of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver methamphetamine.

According to N.C. Department of Corrections, Smith was previously convicted in Duplin of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance in September 2005, stemming from the meth manufacturing case, a conviction for which he served two years.

Henderson has multiple drug convictions out of Duplin and Johnston counties, including recent convictions of possession of a Schedule II controlled substance in each. He was released in October after serving a year and four months for the charges.

Smith and Henderson were each placed under $20,000 secured bond for the charges, according to Duplin County jail records. Smith posted bond Tuesday and was released. As of Wednesday evening, Henderson remained in jail.

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.