A collaboration of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers arrested multiple defendants Thursday in an early-morning operation that dismantled a significant drug-trafficking organization responsible for distributing kilograms of cocaine and other controlled substances in central Arkansas.

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Cody Hiland announcing the arrests and the unsealing of a federal indictment charging 11 defendants with federal drug and firearms offenses. Among those arrested 34-year old Antwan Hardaway, of Newport.

Authorities conducted controlled buys totaling more than a kilogram of cocaine, and during search warrants executed in June seized approximately 7 kilograms of cocaine, 3.5 kilograms of marijuana, 13 firearms including two semi-automatic rifles, a semi-automatic pistol and approximately $9,540 in cash.    MORE