Effingham County authorities conducted a drug bust in Rincon on Friday afternoon that netted thousands of dollars along with cocaine, marijuana and what is believed to be Xanax.

“The drug deal was set up,” said Effingham Sheriff’s Department Capt. Mike Bohannon.

Gregory Baker, 18, and Ronald Braddock, 19, both of Rincon, sold drugs to an undercover officer at the Sunoco convenience store in Rincon.

Each of them has been charged with possession with intent to commit a crime and possession of the tools of a crime. Both are being held at the Effingham County Jail.

Preliminary testing is being done to determine if the third substance is Xanax.

Their cooperation with officers has led to other arrests and confiscations, according to Bohannon.

Asked if his office is seeing a lot of drug activity, Bohannon was blunt.

“Are we seeing a rise in drug activity in Effingham County?” he asked rhetorically. “Yes.”

He faults the rise in population as the culprit. He added that with residents moving into the city from Savannah, some of them are bringing that city’s drug activity here to Effingham County.

However, he and his colleagues are addressing the issue.

“We’re being proactive,” he said.