MONROE, N.C. — Two men were arrested Wednesday and charged with cooking meth inside a Monroe home.
Police arrested Justin Eudy and Michael High at High's home on Sells Street.
Police say they received a tip about the drug lab and arrived to find two young children under the age of 2 inside the home.
State Bureau of Investigation agents worked through the night and most of the day Thursday, dismantling the lab and decontaminating the house.
This is the third meth lab in Monroe to be busted in the last three months, and drug detectives said it is a sign of an increasing trend.
SBI has cleaned up nine meth labs in Union County this year. In 2011, they cleaned up 10 labs. There were four in 2010.
"It's just blown me away with how many we've had this year. It's crazy," said Monroe police Lt. TJ Goforth.
Goforth said her officers have been communicating more with agencies from other states to share their knowledge.
Officers at MPD and the Union County Sheriff's Office have also been working with local businesses to track the movements of those buying the precursor ingredients to make meth.
"They're not regulated, but that doesn't mean we can't keep an eye on them," said UCSO Lt. David Linto.