NATCHEZ — Undercover stings have recently kept the Natchez-Adams County Metro Narcotics Unit busy and the county jail full.

Metro Narcotics Assistant Commander Tom Borum said a team of deputies and narcotics officers arrived with a search warrant at 21 Williams St. at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday and returned to the station with three arrests to process.

Derrick Terell Jackson, 32, 21 Williams St., was arrested on charges of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute simple possession of marijuana and possession of firearm by a convicted felon.

Tracy Henry, 33, 21 Williams St., was arrested for sale of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.

Kenneth Payne, 34, 20 North Hill Parkway, was arrested for possession of stolen property, which included a TV and several Cable One cable boxes.

Borum said the search warrant was attained for Jackson’s home with help from videotaped drug deals between Jackson and secret informants.

Borum said informants are often prisoners who have been arrested, but not yet gone to trial, who work for Metro in hopes of leniency in sentencing.

Borum said informants are also neighbors who want to take an active role cleaning up their neighborhood who offer tips or want to help by engaging in a sting operation.

Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said before using informants of any kind the district attorney must give Metro clearance.

Borum said it is also common to participate in undercover operations in other counties in exchange for borrowing officers to participate in stings in Adams County.

“There’s nothing (in terms of evidence) better than a cop who can take the stand and say he bought (drugs from a drug dealer),” Borum said.

Informants also assisted drug arrests made last week.

Borum said he arrested Zachariah Combs Friday at his 3901 Ridgewood residence for possession of crack cocaine and marijuana.

Kenneth Dewayne Green, 50, 168 St. Catherine St., was arrested Thursday with the help of informants.

Green was arrested on charges of two count of sale of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Kendrick Montrell Ware, 24, 332 Brooks Road, Church Hill, was arrested Thursday for three counts of sale of crack cocaine.

“We are very persistent, and we have an endless supply of informants,” Borum said.

Borum said Metro Commander Maj. David Lindsey has more drug arrests pending.