Several businesses in Candler and Emanuel counties were locked down Thursday as an investigation into illegal gambling unfolded.Metter Police Chief Dennis Nelson said two stores in Metter – the Cedar Center Store (JP Mart) on Cedar Street and the Peaches convenience store (Chevron) on South Lewis Street “were seized … as the result of a four-month-long commercial gambling investigation. Several arrests were made, and cash and machines were seized.”According to reports, the Minit Mart No. 23 on Ga. 46 and Food Mart on Pulaski Highway near the Bulloch County line also were closed down.