COUNTY — Five law enforcement agencies teamed up to make a dent in the methamphetamine problem that affects Pickens and Greenville counties last week.

On Nov. 5 and 6, officers from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, the S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Easley Police Department and the Clemson Police Department joined together in a drug sweep that resulted in 13 arrests in Pickens County.

In addition to the arrests, officers checked 33 locations, seizing more than $2,000 and two guns and placing five children under emergency protective custody due to arrests or unsafe conditions in the home.

Pickens County Sheriff Rick Clark said months of investigation and intelligence gathering uncovered many locations known or suspected as meth manufacturing locations or “meth houses.” The locations were approached by highly trained agents who interviewed the occupants to develop probable cause for a search warrant, consent to search or arrest, Clark said.

“It takes a highly trained and skilled narcotics agent to develop a case and approach a suspected location and leave with the illegal drugs that we suspect are in the house, while defending the rights of our citizens,” Clark said. ” What you see from the results of this meth blitz is that the law enforcement agencies in the Upstate work well together and are top-notch law enforcement professionals.

“Against overwhelming odds, these men and women are fighting the good fight to protect our families against the scourge of methamphetamine.”

Clark also expressed his thanks to the Pickens County HAZMAT team. The HAZMAT team participated in the blitz due to the volatile and dangerous chemicals associated with manufacturing methamphetamine.

Those charged in Pickens County were as follows:

Sherry Renee Bowie, 42, Norris Highway, Central; manufacture of meth/unlawful exposure of minor child to manufacturing methamphetamine

Tiffany Renee Dillard, 29, Daisy Meadow Trail, Meadowville, Ga.; trafficking cocaine/trafficking crack cocaine/possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a controlled substance

Michael Gene Hayes, 48, Maw Bridge Road, Central; trafficking methamphetamine

Frederick Antonio Lay, 29, Springdale Lane, Liberty; trafficking cocaine/trafficking crack cocaine/possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a controlled substance

Felicia Renee Mull, 30, Rolling Hills Road, Six Mile; possession of drug paraphernalia

Perry Timothy Murphy, 53, of Norris Highway, Central; manufacture of meth/unlawful exposure of minor child to manufacturing methamphetamine

Ronald Scott Nalley, 39, Buddin St., Easley; possession of methamphetamine

Samuel Ray Ross, 38, Ann Drive, Liberty; possession of meth, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number

Tammie Arlene Simon, 52, Buddin St., Easley; possession of drug paraphernalia

Todd Mitchell Stephens, 39, Larkwood Road, Liberty; possession of a controlled substance

Robin Cater Sweezy, 59, Norton St., Easley; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine/possession of a controlled substance

Joshua James Welborn, 34, Belle Shoals Road, Six Mile; possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia

Tara Lynn Young, 32, Norton St., Easley; possession of methamphetamine