Warf Road in Washington was the site of the Beaufort County’s latest meth lab bust.

Tuesday, investigators with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office drug unit arrested Kelly White, 28, and Franklin Fulford Jr., 49, both of Warf Road, and Linwood Lee Austin, 23, of VOA Road.

All three were charged with possession of methamphetamine. White and Fulford were also charged with manufacture the highly toxic drug, while Austin was charged with conspiracy to manufacture, according to a drug unit press release.

Lt. Russell Davenport, head of the drug unit, said investigators spent two weeks on surveillance of the residence before making arrests.

“We were doing surveillance and learning from surveillance the people that were purchasing the pseudoephedrine for Fulford, who we think was the main cook,” Davenport said.

Pseudoephedrine is a primary ingredient in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. It’s abuse as such has led to a crackdown on how much of the drug an individual can buy before setting off red flags in a statewide tracking system. Meth manufacturers often employ others to buy the product for them, according to Davenport.

“The investigation is still ongoing. We’re expecting to arrest more people in conspiracy for working with Fulford,” Davenport said.

Meth use and its manufacture have been a growing problem in eastern North Carolina — Onslow County recently had a string of 10 meth lab busts in 10 weeks.

“On a daily basis we investigate complaints for meth use and meth making in Beaufort County,” Davenport said, adding that each investigator with the drug unit is Clandestine Lab certified through SBI, which has helped the drug unit stay on top of the problem.

If you’re going to manufacture meth in Beaufort County, you’re going to get arrested,” Davenport said. “We don’t want it our backyard, and we investigate (these cases) just as hard as we can.”

White and Fulford were confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under no bond. In North Carolina, magistrates can deny bond to those charged with manufacturing methamphetamine as a matter of public safety. Austin was held under a $25,000 bond.