Six people were arrested on drug-related charges at a Clanton residence on Oct. 23.

William Donald Avery, 32; Julian Justine Hayes, 32; Kaycy Brooke Duren, 19; and Melissa Sellers Hayes, 35, were arrested and charged with felony manufacturing of a controlled substance, felony manufacture/sale/transfer of precursor chemicals and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a Clanton Police Department release.

Michael Wayne Northcutt, 39, and Keisha East Northcutt, 32, of Columbiana were arrested for felony conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime.

CPD narcotics detectives developed reason to believe that a residence off Airport Road in Clanton housed a methamphetamine lab.

During the investigation, a discarded meth lab was discovered discarded in a city trash container at the residence, according to the release.

“These labs are very dangerous, and they were placed in the city of Clanton trash container and some unsuspecting city worker could have been seriously injured by the chemicals or possible explosion when they picked up the trash,” Clanton Police Chief Brian Stilwell said in the release.

While detectives were at the home, Michael Northcutt and Keisha Northcutt arrived and had in their possession the ephedrine product to manufacture methamphetamine.

Detectives allege the Northcutts were to receive half of the finished product in exchange for providing the ephedrine needed to manufacture the drug.

“The new ephedrine laws are making it more difficult to purchase ephedrine to manufacture meth, so we are finding partnerships formed were multiple people are buying the ephedrine and they are splitting the finished product,” Stilwell said. “This is called ‘smurfing’ and it too is illegal.”

When the Northcutts arrived at the residence, they had a 10-year-old in the vehicle with them. Chilton County DHR responded to the scene and took custody of the child.

All suspects were arrested on the scene and placed in the Chilton County Jail with no bond being set as of Friday afternoon.

CPD has three certified hazardous material technicians trained to dispose of meth labs.