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Four people were arrested Wednesday after two separate investigations into suspicious purchases of pseudoephedrine -- a chief component in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Melissa LeeAnn Duffey, 20, Louisville; Justin Quentin Light, 24, Knoxville; Ashley Anne Moore, 24, Knoxville; and Joseph Anthony Galliano, 43, Payne Hollow Road, Walland, were all arrested Wednesday and charged with promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine, according to information from the Blount County Sheriff's Office.

As of late Wednesday, bond amounts and court dates had not been set for the four individuals.

The first set of arrests -- involving Duffey, Light and Moore -- happened shortly after noon Wednesday when investigators with the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force were notified by a local business that two suspicious individuals were purchasing pseudoephedrine. Investigators with the Drug Task Force reported seeing the individuals get into a vehicle and drive off.

With the help of Sheriff's Office patrol deputies and the Alcoa Police Department, Drug Task Force investigators stopped the individuals on Pellissippi Parkway at Topside Road. Moore and Light allegedly admitted they were taking pseudoephedrine they had purchased to another county to make meth, according to the sheriff's office. Duffey, Light and Moore were all charged with promoting the manufacture of methamphetamine. Light was wanted on a warrant from Knox County and a fourth passenger was not charged.

In the second case, which happened at about 4:30 p.m., narcotics investigators were contacted by the same local business that a suspicious person -- later identified as Galliano -- had just purchased pseudoephedrine. Narcotics investigators, with the help of the Alcoa Police Department, stopped the vehicle on Alcoa Highway in the Lakemont area.

During the investigation, officers reportedly found 70 dosage units of pseudoephedrine that Galliano had popped out of the blister packs and put into a bag, then stuffed down his pants, according to the sheriff's office.

Galliano allegedly purchased five other boxes of pseudoephedrine earlier in the day in Knox and Sevier counties. The man allegedly admitted he was taking the pseudoephedrine to another county to make meth.

The vehicles were seized in both cases.