CHICAGO, June 7 (UPI) -- Nineteen Chicago-area people were charged on various drug-dealing counts Thursday, ending a nine-month investigation, the U.S. attorney's office said.
Chicago police and Drug Enforcement Agency agents executed multiple search warrants Wednesday, and arrested 16 of the defendants. Three were already in state custody, the statement read.
The defendants, members of two drug-trafficking organizations, were charged with narcotics possession or distribution conspiracy offenses, for allegedly supplying and distributing powder and crack cocaine, an 11-count, 253-page criminal complaint, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, said.
The U.S. attorney's office said the defendants will remain in federal custody pending detention hearings next week.
