aThe alleged pill purchaser involved in a recent “shake and bake” meth operation in Opp was arrested Monday.

Drug Task Force agents made the initial case on Dec. 19, when they went to a North Jackson Street home to serve a warrant on Jeffery Mixon Young III for failure to appear. When agents noticed a box labeled “shake and bake,” agents searched the home and found the box was correctly labeled, said DTF Commander Mark Odom. An active meth cook, as well as other meth-making ingredients were found, he said.

Young was the first of four arrests made that day. Other arrests included Trina Frost Weed, 30, of Andalusia; and homeowners, Rico Rarigus Phillips, 21, and Jessica Hall Phillips, 19. The four were charged with a host of drug-related charges and are currently behind held in the Covington County Jail.

After interviewing the four, a fifth suspect was identified – 21-year-old Bridget Smith of Opp. Odom said Smith admitted she bought the pseudoephedrine used to manufacture the methamphetamine. Smith was charged with manufacture of a controlled substance II and held on a $200,000 bond.

“We are tired of people thinking there will be no consequences for buying the ingredients,” Odom said. “With the media coverage of methamphetamine and its production, I can’t believe anyone still claims not to know that pseudo is the main component. I want to make it clear that if you are caught buying anything which contains pseudoephedrine, and if you provide, or intend to provide it to a meth cook, we will arrest you.”

– Stephanie Nelson