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The Darlington County Drug Enforcement Unit arrested 21 people in a two-say undercover drug operation.

They made the arrests at Foxy Video on Main Street on June 5 and June 7. They primarily involved the possession, distribution, and attempts to purchase the drug known as "bath salts."

"This is a schedule of controlled substance, similar to cocaine," Sheriff Byrd said in a press release. "It is an extremely dangerous drug."

Bath salts are an inexpensive, synthetic form of speed made up of a range of chemicals. Three of the main chemicals, mephedrone, MDPV and methylone, were banned by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency last year.

The drug stimulates the central nervous system, leading to an altered mental status that some drug abuse experts describe as up to 13 times more potent than cocaine, leading to panic attacks, agitation, paranoia, hallucinations and violent behavior.

"Dangerous drugs like bath salts are terrorizing our communities and destroying lives. We will take the strictest measures to eradicate them," Sheriff Byrd said.

June 5, 2012 arrests

• · Victor Balin, 36, 1629 S. Main Street, Darlington, SC, Distribution of Schedule I controlled substance, Possession with the intent to distribute Schedule I controlled substance
• · Douglas W. Pearce, 75, 1107 Franklin Street, Hartsville, SC, Possession of Schedule I controlled substance, Attempt to purchase Schedule I controlled substance, Possession of Schedule III controlled substance, Possession of Schedule IV controlled substance
• · Christopher Lee Davis, 29, 2567 Calvary Road, Hartsville, SC, Attempt to purchase Schedule I controlled substance
• · Jodi Turnage, 49, 1812 Garden Valley Drive, Hartsville, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Steve Stewart, 43, 1812 Garden Valley Drive, Hartsville, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Bradley Kelly, 18, 2112 Auburn School Road, Darlington, SC, Driving under suspension, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Rebekah Barilla, 39, 117 Barefoot Street, Hartsville, SC, Possession of Schedule I controlled substance, possession of Schedule III controlled substance, possession of Schedule IV controlled substance

June 7, 2012 arrests

• · Michael Morris, 61, 135 East Circle Lane Lot 4, Florence, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Judy Langley, 55, 428 Cash Road, Cheraw, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Brian Malin, 45, 1532 Country Manor Road, Darlington, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Maxine Hickey, 27, 3420 Boyce Lane, Wallace, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Steven Watts, 1821 Golf Course Road, Hartsville, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Sarah Freeman, 38, 2639 Cat Pond Road, Patrick, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Johnny Evans, 52, 429 West Smith Avenue, Darlington, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance, Possession of Schedule I controlled substance
• · Christopher Evans, 41, 2241 Salem Road, Scranton, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Gideon Brown Jr., 59, 97 McKel Circle, Bishopville, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance, Possession of Schedule III controlled substance
• · Laura Hardee, 48, 118 W. Michael Lane, Effingham, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Mildred Gulledge, 45, 153 Jessie Andrews Lane, Patrick SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance, Simple possession of marijuana
• · Thomas Henry, 23, 2781 Rosser Lane, Wallace, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Mitchell Henry, 42, 2303 Woodlong Street, Kannapolis, NC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance
• · Christopher Woodward, 34, 103 Hialeah Lane, Cheraw, SC, Attempt to purchase a Schedule I controlled substance