Since official logs of customers buying common over-the-counter cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine began being recorded by pharmacies, the logs have helped authorities net several methamphetamine manufacturers before production of the drug could begin.

Carroll County sheriff’s Capt. Shane Taylor said the logs helped officers with the Sheriff’s Office and Carrollton police’s joint task force, the Aggressive Criminal Enforcement unit, arrest three people after the group had been allegedly buying large quantities of cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine.

On Friday, ACE officers arrested Autumn Puckett, 24, of Roopville, Brandy Waid, 29, of Whitesburg and Michael Stallings, 25, of Carrollton. Authorities said the suspects developed a pattern of visiting area stores to purchase numerous medications containing the ephedrine-based cold tablets used in the production of methamphetamine.

Authorities said all three were arrested and charged with possession of ephedrine and criminal attempt to manufacture methamphetamine Friday after the 1995 Isuzu Trooper driven by Puckett was pulled over Newnan Road.

Georgia law prohibits the purchase of more than 90 pills of ephedrine-based products.

Taylor said the group was identified as frequent purchasers of ephedrine beyond the maximum amount allowed once ACE officers reviewed the logs kept by pharmacists and other employees who sell the medications. The log, which contains a signature and requires a state-issued ID for each purchase, was enacted in 2006 to prevent misuse of the medications by those seeking to manufacture methamphetamine, according to Taylor.

In Friday’s arrest, Taylor said, investigators learned the group had recently purchased cold medication containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine at Wal-Mart and at a CVS pharmacy.

When the three were stopped, deputies found several boxes of pseudoephedrine, receipts from previous purchases of cold medication and several packages of lithium batteries, which are also used in the process of making methamphetamine, according to Taylor.

Taylor said the group admitted they were buying the medication to use to make meth.

“ACE officers search the logs several times a week to look for repeat names,” he said. “The unit also compares the lists with adjoining counties to see if there could be a pattern there since often these cases are not limited to a single jurisdiction.”

State law mandates every store that carries ephedrine or pseudoephedrine products to keep a log of each transaction.

Carrollton police Lt. James Perry said the logs serve as another tool and resource that is available to law enforcement.

“We’re not going into stores to try and monitor what law biding citizens are buying,” he said. “We have found the logs have also worked somewhat as a deterrent. The logs have proven to be beneficial in some of our cases that have involved illegal drug activity.”

Some pharmacists that sell cold medications that contain ephedrine have gone a step further when a suspicious person comes in trying to purchase the maximum amount of pills.

“I don’t tolerate that here,” said Pharmacist Tim Oliver. “We keep those right behind me. If someone comes in with an out of town license tag and doesn’t appear to have any signs of a cold, then I don’t sell it.”

Oliver said he understands the medicines can benefit someone suffering with a cold and will sell the over-the-counter drugs if he knows the drug will be used in a legal and legitimate manner. He said he also wants to do what he can to keep the drug from falling into the hands of someone who will turn it into an addictive narcotic.

“We have an electronic log here, so it’s no problem to keep a log,” he said. “If it’s for a legitimate customer, then we have not heard any complaints from anyone having to sign or show ID for the medication.”