RESERVE — A St. John pharmacist tipped the Sheriff’s Office to odd purchases, leading to the arrests of two Reserve men, who police believe were setting up a meth lab.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Division detectives arrested Roger Catoire Jr., 40, and Dirk Delaneuville, 59, Tuesday, charging each with creation of a clandestine laboratory for the unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance.

As of Friday morning, they remained in custody in the Sherman Walker Correctional Center in lieu of $35,000 bonds.

Police said a call from a local, concerned pharmacist initiated the investigation.

“The pharmacist told detectives the two subjects purchased medication containing pseudoephedrine, which is a precursor item used to manufacture methamphetamine,” a Sheriff’s Office release said. “Detectives obtained video footage of the subjects purchasing Sudafed and other precursor items used in the clandestine manufacturing of methamphetamine. In addition, detectives obtained a judicial authorized search warrant for a local residence, where additional precursor items were recovered.”

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana statute clearly states the purchase and possession of precursor items together “is a violation of the law, even though no methamphetamine was recovered.”