After a year of work, narcotics officers began making arrests Wednesday in an extensive undercover drug operation.

Officers from the Sheriff’s Office, Newberry Police Department, and State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) started serving arrest and search warrants Wednesday morning.

After pounding on streets and doors, officers say they have 124 arrest warrants on 42 suspects and three search warrants for local residences.

Investigators are withholding the location of the search warrants until the investigation into these cases is complete.

The officers had arrest warrants charging the suspects with 51 counts of distribution of crack cocaine, 14 counts of distribution of marijuana, 52 counts of distributing drugs within the proximity of a school or park, five counts of drug conspiracy, one count of distribution of Ecstasy, and one count of forgery to obtain prescription drugs.

Sheriff Lee Foster said that the arrests came at the end of long and detailed investigation into various types of illegal drug activity.

“What people need to understand is the genesis of most of these investigations were from citizens that were concerned about their neighborhoods,“ said Foster. “Patrol officers also provided a great deal of intelligence work that lead to intensive surveillance and undercover work. However, the majority of the people in neighborhoods want to establish a nice home and live in a neighborhood that is free of crime and violence...children want to be able to play without having high traffic from drug users seeking out the drug dealers.“

Foster added his department takes complaints seriously and will look into them.

“Making drug cases that juries will convict takes time and a great deal of effort. However, we are committed to that effort so people can live where they want and be free of crime,“ he said.

“Obviously, law enforcement agencies in Newberry County continue to work closely together,” added Newberry Police Chief Jackie Swindler. “We appreciate the citizens who call and inform us about drugs and other illegal activity in their communities. Most people understand that many crimes are a direct result of illegal drugs as people steal and commit other crimes to supply and support their drug addiction. We also appreciate the patience and support of the community. While these investigations take time, rest assured of our intention to make each community safer."

Foster said the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office participated in the investigation.

In another disturbing factor, Foster noted the number of offenders who were charged with second or third offense distribution of drugs.

The sheriff said often officers work long and hard to make these cases and then many of the courts chose to release offenders back into community with no more than the proverbial "smack on the hand."

Foster said that more arrests are expected as the investigation continues to grow.

Those in custody thus far are:

— Curtis Lee Cromer, of 1611 Vincent St., Newberry, who was charged with two counts of distribution of distribution of crack cocaine;

— Anthony Amp Dawkins, 45, of 2417 Benedict St., Newberry who was charged with two counts distribution of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— William Henry Dean, 53, of 904 Wise St., Newberry, who was charged with two counts distribution of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Bennie Edward Hall, 32, of 3-A Palston Court, Columbia, who was charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Freddie Cedell Houseal Jr., 19, of 1879 Garys Lane, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Donald Maurice Perry, 41, of 309 Drayton St., Newberry, who was charged with distribution of marijuana and conspiracy;

— James Corey Pitts, 25, of 4181 Palmetto Point Drive, Newberry, who was charged with four counts of distribution of crack cocaine and four counts distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Robert Edward Pitts, 40, of 388 Brown Chapel Circle, Newberry, who was charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Louis Ray Robinson, 58, of 599 Bush River Road, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine;

— Angelo Sentell Ruff, 22, of 1703 Drayton St., Newberry, who was charged with two counts of distribution of marijuana and two counts of distribution of marijuana in proximity of a school or park;

— Stanley Lee Ruff , 36, of 104 Odell Road, Newberry, who was charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Amber Bonet Salaam, 21, 2113 Ola St., Newberry, who was charged with two counts of distribution of marijuana and distribution of marijuana in proximity of a school or park.

Still sought are:

— Derrick Sandtel Bookman, 18, of 210 Newberry Arms, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of marijuana and distribution of marijuana in proximity of a school or park;

— Carl Daniel Brown, 24, of 560 Hawkins Road, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of Ecstasy and distribution of Ecstasy in the proximity of a school or park;

— Anthony Odell Caldwell, 19, of 1309 Washington St., Newberry who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in the proximity of a school or park;

— Johnny Gurod Coleman, 30, of 2310 Cottage Ave., Newberry, who was charged with four counts of distribution of distribution of crack cocaine and four counts of distribution of crack cocaine in the Proximity of a school or park;

— Benji Cromer, 35, of 254 Brown Chapel Circle, Newberry, who was charged with four counts of distribution of distribution of crack cocaine and conspiracy;

— Anthony Randolph Cureton, 50, of 2521 Pine St., Newberry, who was charged with two counts distribution of crack cocaine;

— Pasqual Perez Duckett, 24, of 639 Cherry Lane, Newberry, who was charged with drug conspiracy;

— Rodney Bernard Dudley, 21, of 353 Bush River Road, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of marijuana;

— Antoine Markias Elkins, 26, 51 Oak Hollow Road, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine;

— Lorenzo Ellison, 27, of 431 Brown Chapel Drive, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and conspiracy;

— Addidus Antonio Floyd, 17, of 206 Newberry Arms, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of marijuana and distribution of marijuana in proximity of a school or park;

— Markell Antwain Goode, 21, of 811 Burton St., Newberry, who was charged with distribution of marijuana and distribution of marijuana in proximity of a school or park;

— Ernest Leon Goree, 26, of 192 Newberry Arms, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine;

— Nancy Lou Hiller, 37, of 924 Gray St., Newberry, who was charged with third offense distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Jennifer Nicole Israel, 25, of 4009 College St., Newberry, who was charged with forgery to receive a controlled substance;

— Theodore Antonio Jackson, 18, of 2534 Rosalyn Drive, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Demario Daram Kinard, 21, of 2534 Rosalyn Drive, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Christopher Leon Lartman, 20, of 605 Green Acres Road, Silverstreet, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Robert Louis Lemon, 58, of 924 Gray St., Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Keith Darrell Long, 21, of 1604 Evans Pond Road, Greenwood, who was charged with distribution of marijuana and distribution of marijuana in proximity of a school or park;

— Thomas Edward Lyles, 49, of 97 Pine Valley Road, Newberry who was charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Sheron Annette Marshall, 47, of 922 Drayton St., Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Nicholas Antwan Mathis, 26, of 908-D Suber Drive, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of marijuana and distribution of marijuana in proximity of a school or park;

— Mautrice Rafael McBride, 21, of 3381 Rocky Creek Road, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of marijuana and distribution of marijuana in proximity of a school or park;

— Jordan Darrell McMorris, 22, of 422 Drayton St., Newberry, who was charged with two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Tara Meshay Nance, 39, of 718 Glenn St., Newberry, who was charged with two counts of distribution of marijuana and distribution of marijuana in proximity of a school or park;

— Letravis Markell Ouzts, 19, of 2409 Vincent St., Newberry, who was charged with five counts of distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Donte Lamar Ruff, 20, of 910 Maime St., Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Joseph Bernard Smith, 43, 132 Chaplin Park Lane, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park;

— Brandon Centrell Wright, 20, of Nance Forest Apartments, Newberry, who was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and two counts of distribution of crack cocaine in proximity of a school or park.

There is also one juvenile charged with distribution of crack cocaine. The 15-year-old was referred to the Newberry Office of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice for the charges.

More arrests are expected.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 321-2211 or www.newberrycountysheriff.com. You can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CrimeSC, www.sccrimestoppers.com or text your tip to “TIPSC plus your message” to CRIMES (274637).