After a six-month investigation, state narcotics agents and local police rounded up six people Thursday morning who they say were involved in a drug-trafficking ring operating in Carbon and Schuylkill counties. An arrest warrant was issued for a seventh suspect.

In April, the state attorney general’s investigation began targeting Cruz Rodriguez, 31, of New Philadelphia, the leader of narcotics trafficking organization selling methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and heroin/fentanyl, arrest papers said.

Rodriguez, who had been arrested on drug charges in Schuylkill County last month, is now in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in Nesquehoning in lieu of $500,000 bail. The earlier charges were withdrawn.

Current charges against Rodriguez include: possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, 14 counts; conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, two counts; criminal use of a communication facility, two counts; and one count each of criminal conspiracy, corrupt organizations, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, possession of firearm prohibited and receiving stolen property.

Informant

The investigation began when a subordinate drug dealer in the Lansford area became a confidential informant following a search warrant that netted 282 grams of methamphetamine and 26 grams of marijuana following another monthslong, state investigation.

The informant gained the trust of Rodriguez, who goes by “June” and was known as a major wholesale supplier of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and heroin/fentanyl in the two counties, arrest papers said.

The informant witnessed several pounds of methamphetamine and nearly a kilogram of fentanyl at Rodriguez’s Water Street apartment and also held firearms for Rodriguez, court papers said.

Investigators determined Rodriguez was associated with the Second Street Gang, or 2ND street gang, based in Allentown, which is involved in drug and illegal weapons trafficking as well as organized criminal activities, according to arrest papers.

The informant also identified Rodriguez’s girlfriend as Elijah Marie Camacho, 29, of New Philadelphia, who drove him on drug deliveries. Camacho was also arrested on Thursday.

The informant also identified another subordinate dealer, Christopher Hazlett, who went by “Skinny” and dealt drugs out of the 200 block of East Abbott Street in Lansford. Lansford police confirmed complaints about suspected drug activity at 251 E. Abbott St.

The informant also identified Robert C. Ahn III, known as “Dirt,” and Kayla Marie Evert as runners for Lansford dealers, including Hazlett, court papers said.

Hazlett, 58, and Evert, 31, both of Lansford, were also among those arrested Thursday, and there is an active arrest warrant for Ahn.

Second informant

Investigators developed a second confidential informant, who was a former drug trafficker in the Lansford area, in August and also gained the trust of Rodriguez.

That informant would obtain drugs from Rodriguez a couple of times a week for about two years, and detailed transactions in Coaldale, naming Justin Paul Heacock, 40, of Coaldale, who was also arrested in the sweep.

Investigators believe Rodriguez used trusted family members and associates in Coaldale to assist in his operations, court papers said.

The second informant said that Rodriguez possessed firearms and knives and threatened others with the weapons, as well as threatening to administer “hot shots,” or injections with a lethal amount of fentanyl, to those who upset him, court papers said.

Investigators contend Rodriguez used threats of violence, intimidation and potential use of lethal force to control his subordinates and further his drug trafficking organization, court papers said.

Controlled purchases

Both informants made controlled purchases of drugs and exchanged money with those associated with the organization, including Rodriguez, Heacock, Comacho, Hazlett, Ahn and Evert, court papers said.

The investigation also revealed the involvement of Jose Nieves-Feliciano, 45, of Coaldale, who had been previously arrested with Rodriguez in September, court papers said. Those earlier charges were withdrawn.

Current charges against Nieves-Feliciano include: possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, two counts; conspiracy, two counts; corrupt organizations, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities and criminal use of a communication facility.

Nieves-Feliciano was arraigned Thursday by District Judge Beth Dodson and remanded to the Carbon County prison in lieu of $70,000 bail.

Dodson also arraigned Evert, Hazlett, Heacock and Camacho, setting bail at $20,000, $60,000 unsecured, $90,000 and $50,000, respectively. All, except Hazlett, are in the Carbon County prison in lieu of bail.

Hazlett, Heacock and Camacho face charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy and dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities.

Hazlett and Heacock were also charged with criminal use of communication facility. Evert was charged with possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy to deliver, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities and criminal use of a communication facility.