Three people were arrested after law enforcement officers recovered more than 13 grams of fentanyl as well as methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop Thursday afternoon.

The arrests were part of an ongoing investigation in regards to the sale of narcotics in Columbus, said Lt. Matt Harris, Columbus Police Department spokesman. The arrests were part of a Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team investigation.

Harris said Bartholomew County and Columbus have seen an uptick in overdoses and overdose deaths, and recovery of this large amount of fentanyl could potentially prevent overdoses from occurring.

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During the investigation, officers stopped a vehicle driven by Jimmie D. Miller, 42, of Columbus. A CPD police service dog was requested and later alerted to the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle.

Miller and his two passengers, Timeeka L. Ramsey, 34, of Columbus and Joshua A. Anderson, 39, of Seymour were detained and later arrested, Harris said.

A search of the vehicle resulted in officers locating a large amount of fentanyl along with methamphetamine, synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Harris said.

Preliminary charges are:

Miller: Dealing in a narcotic drug, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a lookalike substance and possession of a narcotic drug. He was being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in Columbus in lieu of $985,000 bond.

Anderson: Possession of methamphetamine, possession of a lookalike substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a legend drug, false informing and Jackson County warrant. He was being held in the Bartholomew County Jail with no bond.

Ramsey: Possession of a narcotic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a syringe. She was being held in the Bartholomew County Jail in lieu of $817,500 bond.

The Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team is a combined unit of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Columbus Police Department and Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office.