FAIRFIELD — Officers were able to follow their noses to a meth lab in Jefferson County and arrested four people in connection with the case.

The smell was from 2261 Cedar Ave., in Batavia. Reports from people who called in the smell prompted officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Fairfield Police Department, Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Parole and Probaton High-Risk Unit to raid the property Monday night. They found a meth lab.

Four people face charges:

• Janice Kay McVey, 2261 Cedar Ave., Batavia, is charged with manufacturing more than 5 grams of methamphetamine, possesison of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft.;

• Kenneth Francis Mcvey, 2261 Cedar Ave., Batavia, is charged with manufacturing more than 5 grams of methamphetamine and theft.;

• Daniel David Sels, 709 N. Ash Street, Ottumwa, is charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than 5 grams of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and theft;

• Michael Anthony Nulph, 406 Grandview Ave., Ottumwa, is charged with manufacturing more than 5 grams of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

The investigation broadened to involve the Wapello County Sheriff’s Department when officers found stolen property in their investigation. That led to another set of search warrants targeting the suspects from the meth lab. Officers executing those warrants discovered stolen property from victims in both Jefferson and Wapello counties.

Janice and Francis McVey could each face as much as 30 years in prison if convicted on the drug charges. Sels and Nulph each face up to 25 years in prison.

Matt Milner can be reached at (641) 683-5359 or via e-mail at mwmilner@mchsi.com