Officers arrest 35 for crack cocaine charges

On Monday morning, more than 60 local, state and federal law enforcement officers served arrest warrants on 45 Charleston area residents charged with trafficking crack cocaine.

By 9 a.m., authorities apprehended 35 defendants, who are now awaiting appearances in either state or federal court. The round-up culminates an 18-month investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force. Assisting agencies included the FBI; the U.S. Marshals Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Charleston police; and the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department.

Sixteen of those arrested face federal charges. Nineteen face state charges. Three others facing federal charges and seven facing state charges were not apprehended.