A total of eight people are in custody following a Thursday morning drug bust in Bryan and Chatham counties that broke up a meth operation.
According to Agent Gene Harley with the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team (CNT), just after 6 a.m., members of the CNT, Bryan County Sheriff’s Department, Bloomingdale Police Department and Pooler Police Department arrested eight people on felony drug related charges.
The warrant sweep resulted in a series of meth investigations conducted by CNT.  
According to the Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, the following arrests were made:
• Ronnie Bell of Bryan County was charged with unlawful purchasing of pseudoephedrine.
• George Roundtree of Bryan County was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
• Jessie Hurt of Bryan County was charged with manufacturing meth, possession of meth, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  
• Joseph Roberts of Bryan County was charged with manufacturing meth, possession of a controlled substance (meth), possession of a drug related object.  
• Gerald Belmer of Bryan County was charged with charged with possession of a controlled substance (meth).
• Ricky Lawson, Chris Lawson and Kathy Marie Lawson, all of Bloomingdale, were charged with unlawful purchasing of pseudoephedrine.
Harley said during the arrest of Hurt, agents discovered finished meth and an inactive meth lab at Hurt’s residence on Molden Branch Road near Ellabell.
Evidence found at the lab indicated additional meth cooks has been conducted, Harley said. The lab was made safe by CNT agents specially trained in the cleanup of meth labs.  
Harley said in addition to the lab, agents located firearms and numerous surveillance cameras throughout the property.
Everyone arrested in Thursday’s operation were taken to either the Bryan County Jail or the Chatham County Detention Center based on the jurisdiction of the arrest warrant. Arraignments are expected by the end of the week.