Federal drug busts leads to Wisconsin arrests

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Federal prosecutors say 23 people from Wisconsin and Illinois have been indicted for their alleged roles in a cocaine and heroin ring on Milwaukee’s south side.

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Milwaukee says 19 suspects were arrested Tuesday. The other four were already in custody.

Twenty suspects are Milwaukee residents who range in age from 24 to 65. One is a 26-year-old Ripon man and the other two are Chicago residents, ages 29 and 49.

Prosecutors say the suspects were part of a large drug-trafficking organization that has been operating for many years. They say the leaders are three brothers who acquired most of their heroin from one of the Chicago men.

The arresting officers also seized $300,000 in cash, five firearms and a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of heroin.