Drug agents arrested seven people following a monthlong investigation into heroin and crack cocaine trafficking in midcoast Maine.

Arrested were:

• Chas Echols and Rashad Newsome, both 24 and from Rochester, New York, on charges of aggravated trafficking in crack cocaine.

• Brianna Parlin, 24, and Sydni Barham, 28, both of Rockland, on charges of trafficking in heroin and crack cocaine.

• Chris Knight, 24, of Rockland, on charges of felony possession of heroin and violating bail conditions.

• Felichia Glidden, 22, of Waldoboro, on a charge of trafficking in crack cocaine.

• Harley Winchenbach, 23, of Cushing, on a charge of aggravated trafficking in heroin.

Agents with the Mid-Coast District Task Force of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency had been investigating the distribution of heroin and crack to local communities from out-of-state dealers, spokesman Stephen McCausland said in a news release.

The investigation found that Echols and Newsome rented cars every week to travel to New York and bring heroin and crack back to be sold in Thomaston, Rockland and Waldoboro.

The two New York men enlisted several local residents to assist in their operation, including Parlin, Glidden, Winchenbach and Barham, who sold the drugs locally.

Police believe the people involved recruited new customers and evaded police by allowing Echols and Newsome to frequently change locations by using differing apartments as trafficking locations, McCausland wrote.

Undercover agents made purchases of both heroin and crack cocaine from several members of the operation.

Early Wednesday morning, drug agents searched a house at 44 Staley Lane in Waldoboro, where Glidden and Winchenbach lived.

Echols, Newsome, Parlin and Glidden were all there and were arrested after police seized approximately 40 grams of crack cocaine, six grams of heroin, several Suboxone strips and the prescription drug Ritalin – worth an estimated $10,000. Also seized were packaging materials and $5,000 in suspected drug proceeds.

Knight and Winchenbach were arrested after the car they were in was stopped by Waldoboro police leaving the Staley Lane residence.

Barham was arrested later Wednesday at her Broadway Street apartment in Rockland, one of the apartments used by Echols and Newsome to sell their drugs.

All seven were taken to either Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset or Knox County Jail in Rockland.

McCausland said agents anticipate additional charges and arrests this week as part of this investigation.