RICH SQUARE – For the third time this year, local and state law enforcement officers have seized evidence that led to charges of manufacturing methamphetamine (meth) in Northampton County.

Northampton Sheriff Jack Smith reported the arrest of 21-year-old Dennis Lee Nowell of Rich Square. Smith said Nowell was charged with felony manufacture methamphetamine, felony possession with intent to manufacture precursor, a possession with intent to manufacture and precursor not meth, and felony maintaining a residence to store a controlled substance.

Nowell was jailed under a $45,000 secured bond and has a court date pending.

Smith said on Thursday, April 20, agents with the Down East Drug Task Force, along with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office and the Roanoke Rapids Police Department were following up on drug complaints at a residence on Bolton Road in the Rich Square area

“Agents discovered what appeared to be meth precursors inside the residence they were at,” Smith stated. “Agents secured the residence and applied for a search warrant. A search warrant was issued and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Clandestine Lab Team responded to remove the hazardous material from the residence.”

Sheriff Smith Stated that he is proud of the results he is seeing from the Down East Drug Task Force in Northampton County. He also commended his agents and other members of the Down East Drug Task Force for working hard on combating illegal narcotics in three counties: Hertford, Northampton and Bertie.

“I also thank the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and Roanoke Rapids Police Department for their assistance in this case,” Smith said. “My office and the Down East Drug Task Force will continue to follow up on all drug complaints throughout Northampton County.” Smith encourages anyone Northampton County to call the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at 252-534-2611 or the Crime Stopper’s number (252-534-1110) to remain anonymous while sharing information on illegal activities.

In mid January, the Northampton Sheriff’s Office, teaming again with the Down East Drug Task Force and the SBI, arrested three individuals in the Pendleton area on meth related charges. Later in January, a Conway woman was arrested on similar charges.