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SAFFORD - Dozens of drug suspects are in custody following a four-month investigation into a major drug ring in the communities of Safford, Thatcher, Pima, and Eastern Arizona College.

As part of Operation Gila Monster, the Arizona Narcotics Task Force identified 43 suspects involved in the sale of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana, and prescription drugs to include predominantly OxyCodone.

The Arizona Narcotics Task Force is comprised officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Safford Police Department, Graham County Sheriff's Office, Eastern Arizona College Police, Thatcher Police Department, and the Pima Police Department.

For this operation, a total of 70 officers and agents worked together to arrest 36 of the 43 arrest warrants.

The estimated street value of the drugs removed from those communities during the investigation was $50,000.

On the execution of these warrants, an additional nine people were identified and arrested in connection to this case and several drugs were seized. In addition to the drug seizures, three vehicles and five weapons were seized.