Special to the Middlesboro Daily

SPEEDWELL, Tenn. —The war on drugs is continuing in Claiborne County. About two a.m. on Tuesday, the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office S.W.A.T. Team along with the 8th Judicial Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at 7591 Highway 63, in Speedwell. When they entered the home, they found a meth lab capable of making approximately three and a half grams of methamphetamine an hour.

Norman Leach, 27, was arrested and taken into custody, along with Melissa Rogers, 38, of Speedwell. They have been charged with promotion of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Leach was additionally charged with possession of a stolen hand gun. Other firearms were seized from the home.

Sheriff David Ray stated that his department will continue to actively identify and destroy meth labs in the community Sheriff Ray also said that the meth cookers in this area will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of law.

In the early morning hours on Friday, a search warrant was executed at the residence of Fred Buis Sr. located off of Hwy. 25-E in Tazewell. During the search over 100 oxycotin pills were discovered and seized along with approximately 31 guns and over $4,000 cash. Also confiscated was an air compressor, large amounts of ammunition along with other items.

The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office along with the 8th Judicial Drug Task Force were at the residence for over four hours processing the scene. Criminal drug charges are expected to be placed on Fred Buis Sr. due to the outcome of the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office Investigation.

Anyone with information on illegal drug activity should contact Sheriff Ray or Captain David Honeycutt at the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office at (423)626-2501.