Police say two dozen suspects were rounded up in raids carried out today.

Police say those involved were distributing more than $1 million worth of heroin-cut with fentanyl each year.

In a news conference, police said those involved were selling roughly 250 grams of the heroin every month, which has a street value of $83,000. 

They say the suspects were also selling 200 grams of cocaine each month, as well as pills and marijuana.

Authorities say they launched their investigation in December of 2018, following a rash of violence on the reservation and five deadly overdoses in the area.

 

 

 

The raids were carried out by New York State Police, the Suffolk DA, the FBI and the Suffolk Police Department.

Of the 24 people arrested in connection to the ring, authorities say eight lived on the reservation and that a large number of drug transactions occurred on tribal land.

The Shinnecock Nation says nine tribal members were arrested in the operation.

They said in a statement, "Although the Council of Trustees did not have prior knowledge of the operation, the Shinnecock Community at large has suffered greatly due to the opioid and fentanyl epidemic and tribal members have consistently requested the assistance of outside law enforcement agencies to help combat the issue."

Officials say the investigation is ongoing.

News 12 is told several people are already charged with operating as a major drug trafficker, and the DA says it will be pursuing that charge for several others.