In a series of morning raids Wednesday, federal authorities arrested eight Rochester residents accused of roles in a major drug-trafficking operation.

Federal agents seized cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl as well as $20,000, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassie Kocher said in a news release.

The operation was the culmination of a lengthy investigation that included telephone wiretaps, surveillance, and multiple undercover purchases of drugs, according to an affidavit from Timothy Fudella, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, or ATF.

Authorities Wednesday declined to say the amount of drugs seized during the raids.

The eight arrested are accused of a conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, and a kilogram or more of heroin. Arrested were:  Edwin Deleon, 27, Eugenio Torres, 44, Clarita Mendez, 31, Sergio Smith, 30, Manuel Lewis, 29, Bryan Deleon, 23, Juan Ortega-Baez, 18, and Angel Fernando, 28. All are from Rochester.

The court records show that authorities are also looking for a ninth person alleged to have been involved in drug trafficking.

The eight are now being held pending future hearings. They appeared in federal court Wednesday.

The investigation included the ATF, Rochester police. the Border Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

GCRAIG@Gannett.com

 

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