Twenty-one people have been arrested in a major takedown of cocaine and fentanyl trafficking in the Capital Region.

The ring brought drugs from Brooklyn and distributed them to Rensselaer, Albany, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties, the Attorney General’s Office announced Tuesday. Investigators seized more than 4.5 kilograms with a street value of around $450,000.

The alleged ringleader was Heather Thompson, 38, of Troy, who is accused of purchasing cocaine by the kilo to then distribute to a network of dealers throughout the local area.

Investigators said that Thompson primarily conducted business in Saratoga County and made sales at a local pub and bowling alley.

The other major ringleader was 48-year-old Jermaine Moreno, of Brooklyn, who allegedly drove kilos of cocaine from New York City to sell to Thompson. She would then divide the supply into quantities ranging from 10 to 100 grams and contacted her buyers, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

The suspects allegedly used code words to refer to the drugs. Crack cocaine was “hard” or done.” Powder cocaine was “soft” or “undone” and heroin was “dog food.” 

Thompson and Moreno have been charged with operating as a major trafficker, which carries a mandatory life sentence in state prison.

Also charged in the indictment were:

• Alexander Bayne, South Glens Falls/Hudson Falls,  35
• Conrad Bayne, South Glens Falls, 59
• Zachary Bessette, North Creek, 33
• Kevin Cooper, Glens Falls, 38
• Trevor Harris, South Glens Falls, 35
• Ronnie Luna, Glens Falls, 42
• Lindsey Mattison, West Rupert, VT, 34
• Ryan Megna, Glens Falls, 42
• Jack Moulton, South Glens Falls, 35
• Cassidy O’Connell, Glens Falls, 30
• Wesley Reed, Jr., Troy, 59
• Wesley Reed, III, Troy, 38
• Christine Sondermeyer, Glens Falls, 53
• Melissa Stearns, Hudson Falls, 38
• Lonsdale Stuffle, Glens Falls, 30
• Mackenzie Sumner, Glens Falls, 37
• Jackson Tucker, Troy, 43
• Christopher Wern, Glens Falls, 41
• Walter Winchell, Glens Falls, 49

The arrests were part of the Attorney General’s Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (SURGE) to root out violent drug trafficking.