NATCHEZ — Two men are wanted on drug charges after agents with Natchez-Adams Metro Narcotics recovered what they say represents $16,000 worth of marijuana in a foot chase.

Metro agents were on patrol when they saw two suspicious vehicles parked at the community center on Triumph Lane that accelerated away from the scene at a high rate of speed when agents approached, Adams County Sheriff Chuck Mayfield said.

When agents got behind a black Volvo leaving the scene and ran the tag, it came back as a switched tag, Mayfield said.

The vehicle sped down Martin Luther King Jr. Road north before turning around at a high rate of speed and heading back toward town, Mayfield said, before turning around again and having an occupant run out carrying a backpack.

The runner threw the backpack over a wall, but then ran away, leaving it behind, Mayfield said.

The backpack was found to have 530 grams of marijuana, weighing and packaging materials, a .32-caliber handgun and several kitchen whisks that later tested positive for cocaine — indicating they had been used in the manufacture of crack cocaine — in it, Mayfield said.

The vehicle continued toward town, and it was later located on Davis Court and towed.

Metro Lt. George Pirkey said if the marijuana was sold by the gram — as Metro agents suspect it would be based on its grade — it would sell for $30 a gram.

Mayfield said warrants will be issued for two suspects associated with the chase, Willie Herman Lewis III, also known as ‘Lil Bill, and an individual known as Smooney.

Smooney was allegedly the runner who threw the backpack over the wall, while Lewis allegedly handed it to him in the car.

The suspects could be charged with acting in concert, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute while in possession of firearm while in school zone, Pirkey said.