Nine suspected drug dealers were arrested Friday during a roundup by police and charged with dealing drugs in Carbon and Lehigh counties.

The arrests are the result of an investigation that began in late 2015 and continued into 2016 by agents of the state attorney general’s office with the assistance of the Carbon County Drug Task Force and the district attorney’s offices of Carbon and Lehigh.The nine were arraigned Friday morning before Senior District Judge Edward Lewis of Jim Thorpe.InvestigationOn Jan. 12 a search warrant was obtained for the residence of Richard E. Moyer, 57, and Connie Serfass, 60, at 1541 Fritz Valley Road, Lehighton. Found in the home were 17.5 grams of a white crystalline substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, $200, two digital scales and other items used in the packaging and distribution of controlled substances.It was learned the two had purchased their drugs from Edilberto Ortiz Jr., 45, of 1236 W. Tilghman St., Allentown.During January agents met with a confidential informant who provided information concerning drug dealers and types of drugs involved.The confidential informant also provided a considerable amount of intelligence information as well and information on the drug culture in Carbon and Lehigh counties.On Jan. 13 the confidential informant made a call to Ortiz to arrange a purchase of controlled substances.A buy was made by the confidential informant of 28.4 grams of meth from Ortiz.On Feb. 24 the informant contacted with Susan Rex, 57, of 234 W. Columbus Ave., Nesquehoning by phone and bought 3.9 grams of crystal meth from her at her home.The affidavit also states that during February and March, Ortiz was selling crystal meth to Robert David Rex, 58, of 3 W. Water St., Nesquehoning, Susan Annette Rex, 57, of 234 W. Columbus Ave., Nesquehoning, Donna Marie Ziegenfuss, 54, of 45 Berger Hill Road, Palmerton, and Holly Ann Eckhart, 50, of 495 Hahns Dairy Road, Palmerton.On March 15 agents executed search warrants at the homes of Robert Rex, Ziegenfuss, Eckhart and a home at 179 Heck Road, Kunkletown, owned by Michael Eckhart.Various amounts of meth, cash and items used in the packaging of illegal substances were found.A warrant was also executed that day on Ortiz’s residence and found was more than 4 grams of meth, a .32-caliber gun, $2,402 and items used in the packaging of illegal substances for sale.According to the affidavit,Ortiz confirmed that he supplied Robert Rex, Susan Rex, Ziegenfuss, Eckhart, Moyer and Serfass with meth.Those suspects later redistributed the drugs to their customers, officials said.Second investigationThe second investigation involved Ricky Lee Green, 53, of 47 S. Second St., Palmerton, and Stephen Michael Mooney, 51, of 104 Westside Road, Palmerton.The affidavit of probable cause states on Jan. 28 a confidential informant used by the agents called Green to arrange for a drug purchase of $200 worth of meth from Mooney.Later the informant and Green met at a Lehighton location at which time he gave Green the $200.A surveillance was conducted of the sale at a Mahoning Township location between Green and Mooney.A second arranged sale was made on March 29 with Green buying $200 worth of meth from Mooney.That transaction was completed along Main Road in Lehighton.Mooney got himself into more problems following his arraignment. When he was taken to the county prison, during the intake search a bag of meth was found in his shoe.He will be charged for that offense.Lewis tentatively set June 22 at 3 p.m. for preliminary hearings for all nine.Attorney General Kathleen Kane thanked all investigators, the Carbon County Drug Task Force and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for its work on this investigation.All defendants will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christie Bonesch of the Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section. • Edilberto Ortiz Jr., 45, of 1236 W. Tilghman St., Allentown, charged with four counts of unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, two counts of corrupt organizations, and one count each of criminal use of a communication facility, dealing in proceeds of unlawful acts, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. At the request of the attorney general’s office he was released on $100,000 unsecured bail.

• Holly Ann Eckhart, 50, of 495 Hahns Dairy Road, Palmerton, charged with two counts each of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of corrupt organizations and one count each of criminal use of a communication facility, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released on $100,000 unsecured bail at the request of the attorney general’s  office.

• Richard E. Moyer, 57, of 1541 Fritz Valley Road, Lehighton, charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, three counts corrupt organizations and one count each of criminal use of a communication facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on $100,000 unsecured bail at the request of the attorney general’s office.

• Connie Serfass, 60, 1541 Fritz Valley Road, Lehighton, charged with the same counts as Moyer. She was released on $100,000 unsecured bail at the request of the attorney general’s  office.

• Donna Marie Ziegenfuss, 54, of 45 Berger Hill Road, Palmerton, charged with the same counts as Moyer. She was committed to the county prison in Nesquehoning in lieu of $250,000 straight cash bail.

• Susan Annette Rex, 57, 234 W. Columbus Ave., Nesquehoning, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of corrupt organizations and one count each of criminal use of a communication facility, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was committed to the county prison in lieu of $250,000 straight cash bail.

• Robert David Rex, 58, of 3 W. Water St., Lansford, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of corrupt organizations and one count each of criminal use of a communication facility, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was committed to the county prison in lieu of $250,000 straight cash bail.

The seven were part of one investigation.

Arrested as part of a separate investigation were:

• Stephen Michael Mooney, 51, of 104 Westside Road, Palmerton, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count each of criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance. He was committed to the county prison in lieu of $100,000 straight cash bail.

• Ricky Lee Green, 53, of 47 S. Second St., Palmerton, charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count each of criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance. He was released on $25,000 unsecured bail at the request of the attorney general’s  office.