Twelve individuals were arrested Friday morning during an operation by the Second Judicial Task Force, according to Butler County Sheriff Kenny Harden.

Harden said that since the task force relocated to Butler County last October, more than 150 cases have been made.

“This is the second roundup we have done since October of last year,” Harden said. “We were looking for a total of 26 people, each with one to three charges.”

Charges ranged from distribution to possession of a controlled substance, with such drugs as cocaine, prescription pills and marijuana, Harden said.

In addition to the arrests, five vehicles were seized as of Friday afternoon, according to Byron Russell with the Drug Task Force. These vehicles had been identified, Harden said, after they had been used to unknowingly sell drugs to undercover task force agents.

Greenville Police Chief Lonzo Ingram commended all departments involved in the roundup.

“It would be great to say this morning that this would solve the drug problem in the county, but it doesn’t,” Ingram said. “What it does is serve notice to those that are going to participate in this illegal activity that we are not going to tolerate it. We are going to stay on top of it and keep hammering away.”

According to Harden, some of the individuals arrested during the roundup had been arrested for drug related charges before.

“They aren’t spending enough time in the penitentiary,” Harden said. “They aren’t scared enough of the consequences and get right back out and go back to selling.”

Harden said not all of those arrested today were being sought by the task force, but were picked up on existing warrants when target residences and vehicles were searched.

The following individuals were arrested during the roundup:

-Rico Demond Boggan, 29, for child support and harassment.

-William Charles Grace, 46, for two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

-Cedric Ladreko Hasley, 29, for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance

-Michael DeWayne Howard, 31, for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

-Roderick E. Lewis, 28, for possession of a controlled substance.

-Lamarkas Moorer, 21, for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

-Emmanuel Riley, 32, for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

-Gene Rivers, 23, for criminal trespassing.

-Trusta Renee Rudolph, 27, for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

-Christopher Lionel Ward, 18, for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

-Marcus Alexander Williams, 30, for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

-A minor, for unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.