By Matt Sepic, KWMU
Fairview Heights, Ill. – Federal prosecutors say they have broken up a major drug trafficking ring in the Alton area.
They've charged 18 people with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute crack cocaine.
Fifteen of the suspects were arrested during a sting operation Tuesday.
U.S. Attorney Ronald Tenpas says the bust was among the largest in his two years on the job.
"In this type of investigation, our goal is to always attack the whole of an organization, as high up the chain as we can go, to as far down as we can go," Tenpas said. "We are not interested in simply taking out a few street level dealers."
Tenpas says two suspects in the case remain at large.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.