Eight individuals are being charged in a drug conspiracy after an indictment was unsealed Jan. 12.

Federal Bureau of Investigations agents, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Metropolitan and Prince George's County police departments arrested seven of the defendants Jan. 11, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

“The organizations peddling poison on our streets and in our communities need to know that they are on the radar of law enforcement and we intend to put them out of business," U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves said in the release. "Neither the drugs these groups spread nor the violence their operations attract will be tolerated."

Melvin Grayson, 49, of District Heights, Md.; Christopher Wells, 44, of Oxon Hill, Md.; Jimmy Davis, 41, of Bowie, Md.; Terrell Washington, 43, of Hyattsville, Md.; Kenneth Watts, 55, of Upper Marlboro, Md.; James Kinard, 45, of Temple Hills, Md.; and Charles Cunningham, 56, of the District of Columbia, made their initial court appearances, according to the release. Also accused is Tyrone "Tech" Ragland, 54, of the District of Columbia.

Each defendant is accused of conspiring to distribute and having in their possession one kilogram or more of phencyclidine, 100 grams or more of heroin, 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, the release reported.

Law authorities seized at least eight firearms — including a ghost gun and a shotgun — ammunition; drugs including phony pills containing fentanyl, crack cocaine, powder cocaine and PCP; drug paraphernalia; and more than $60,000 in cash during the arrests and subsequent searches of several homes, according to the release.

“This investigation demonstrates the collective commitment of the FBI, DEA and MPD’s Violent Crime Impact Team to dismantling street crews who are the purveyors of the illicit drugs that drive the violent crime in our communities," Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal and Cyber Division Wayne A. Jacobs said in the release. "Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to hold those accountable who traffic in the violence and narcotics responsible for causing the irreparable damage to the neighborhoods we all live and work in.”