An alert sheriff’s deputy helped nab an Eden man on drug charges Tuesday.

Watson Thad Waters, 41, was arrested after drugs were found in his car and at his home, according to the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Danny Harrington stopped Waters for driving without a seat belt on Brogdon Road in Guyton around noon on Tuesday. The name on the man’s driver’s license immediately stood out to Harrington, said ECSO spokesman Detective David Ehsanipoor.

“After the patrol deputy made the stop, he recognized the name,” Eshanipoor said. “We have received complaints from people in the community about this man being involved in drug activity, so his name was on the radar. We just didn’t have enough evidence to get a search warrant yet.”

The ECSO had all it needed after the traffic stop, though.

A check of Waters’ license plate showed he was wanted on a warrant in Chatham County. Also, Harrington “detected a strong odor of marijuana inside of the vehicle,” Ehsanipoor said.

The deputy found not only a small amount of marijuana in the car, but also methamphetamine and items used to manufacture meth. The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office Drug Suppression Team was called in and found a methamphetamine lab at Waters’ house on Pine Street in Eden, according to Ehsanipoor.

He was arrested and charged with trafficking illegal drugs, possession of methamphetamine, manufacturing meth and possession of tools while committing a crime.

“Waters has an extensive criminal history including methamphetamine-related charges in both Georgia and South Carolina,” Ehsanipoor said.

Waters had his first court appearance Wednesday before Chief Magistrate Scott Hinson and was bound over to Superior Court. He is being held in the Effingham County Jail.