Effingham County Sheriff’s Office’s drug investigation unit arrested five people Thursday for possession with intent to distribute MDMA.

Arrested were Paul Lewis Pinero, 21, of Rincon; Joseph Michael Stidhams, 24, of Rincon; Brian Lee Rustin, 34, of Rincon; Katie Ann Kirkpatrick, 20, of Savannah; and Sally Savannah Hughes, 23, of Rincon.

Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said all five have been charged with possession with intent to distribute and conspiracy to commit a crime. They are being held in Effingham County Jail pending court appearances.

McDuffie said investigators conducted the arrest after receiving information of a delivery of MDMA into Effingham County and intercepted the shipment at the Goshen BP Gas Station.

The sheriff also said that drugs are at the root of the most violent crimes.

“Most property crimes are drug users trying to get money to buy drugs,” he said. “We must provide a safe environment for our children and a hostile environment for drug manufacturers and dealers.

“We must attack the drug problem and be proactive.”