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Alabama deputies seize meth, moonshine still on Sand Mountain

Authorities in northeast Alabama confiscated meth, a moonshine still, weapons and cash.

DEKALB COUNTY, Ala. — Seven people were arrested Tuesday night after Alabama deputies confiscated a dismantled moonshine still, methamphetamines, weapons and an undisclosed amount of cash on Sand Mountain, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.

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In a statement, Sheriff Nick Welden said the items were seized during two operations conducted by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and police departments in Fort Payne, Henegar and Ider, the newspaper reported.

After obtaining a search warrant on a home in Ider, authorities seized more than 28 grams of meth, two guns, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and cash, WZDX reported.

Ider residents John Jolley, 56, and Ruth Smith, 49, were arrested and charged with methamphetamine trafficking, possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree possession of marijuana, the Times Free Press reported.

As authorities attempted to serve another warrant in rural DeKalb County, three people in the home fled on foot, WAFF reported. They were captured, and when deputies searched the residence they said they found approximately 90 grams of methamphetamine, a disassembled moonshine still, 50 gallons of mash and marijuana, the television station reported.

Five people were arrested in the second raid, the Times Free Press reported: Jonathan Matthew Higdon, 44, of Bryant; Erica Castleberry, 32, of Hidgon; Dustin Roberts, 32, of Higdon; Ryan Hardeman, 24, of Higdon; and Brian Sartain, 48, of Trenton, Georgia.

Higdon and Castleberry each were charged with trafficking methamphetamine, second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; Roberts was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; and Hardeman and Sartain were charged with second-degree possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, the newspaper reported.