Three people were arrested Tuesday night in a drug bust by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office Drug Suppression Team.

According to the ECSO, Jessica Caylor, 29, of Pooler, and Joseph Wilson, 36, of Bloomingdale, each drove from Chatham County to the Foxbow Farms community off U.S 80 in Eden, where they sold roxycodone to undercover agents.

A third suspect, Courtney Johnson, 20, of Bloomingdale, was arrested after she arrived and sold methamphetamine to agents.

“We knew these individuals had been selling roxycodone and methamphetamine in Effingham County,” said ECSO spokesman Det. David Ehsanipoor. “It’s not uncommon that they come into our county to sell drugs, so we set up an operation to apprehend them.”

While Johnson was in custody and the agents were waiting for a marked ECSO unit to arrive to take her to jail, she tried to escape. Johnson ran but was caught after a brief chase, Ehsanipoor said.

Caylor and Wilson were charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to commit a drug-related crime.

Johnson was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and escape.

All three were taken to the Effingham County Jail.

Ehsanipoor said Effingham and surrounding counties are seeing an increase in the illegal use and distribution of roxycodone, a narcotic pain reliever used for treating moderate to severe pain.

“We’re not sure why, but roxycodone is becoming more and more popular,” he said.

Even more concerning, Ehsanipoor said, is that the ECSO has learned through informants that heroin is starting to come into Effingham County.

“Heroin is just a cheaper way to get high, but it’s deadlier, too,” Ehsanipoor said. “I can’t stress enough how dangerous and deadly heroin is. Heroin is the last thing we want in our community.”