Federal prosecutors say 70 people have been charged after a two-year investigation into alleged drug trafficking and gun violence in northeastern Arkansas.
U.S. Attorney Christopher Thyer and others announced Tuesday that 40 sealed indictments handed up last week named 70 defendants in a major drug-and-weapon operation. More than 500 law officers staged a number of arrests Tuesday morning.
Thyer said it had been evident for some time that drugs and guns were "overrunning" the Arkansas Delta.
Between January 2014 and June 2015, agents bought drugs and/or guns 160 times. Prosecutors said they seized more than 19 pounds of methamphetamine, 89 illegally possessed firearms and 10 ounces of crack cocaine.
