Six people have been picked up in connection with a year-long city police drug sting.

Smithville Police Chief Mark Collins told the Review that his department has been running the operation since January.

“On Jan. 14 2016 the Smithville Police Department launched an undercover drug investigation,” Collins said. “The intention was to eliminate some of the illegal drugs being sold in the city. By using a confidential informant, we were able to make several buys. When the grand jury met in December, we were able to obtain sealed indictments on several people. Six of them have been picked up.”

Picked up by city officers on Dec. 2 were:

Nathan B. McMinn, arrested on a sealed indictment for sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug.

Aaron Ponder, on a sealed indictment for sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Morphine).

Mark West, on a sealed indictment for sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug.

The sheriff’s department picked up three people on sealed indictments brought before the grand jury by Smithville police in connection with the operation.

According to Sheriff Patrick Ray, Donald Gene Rigsby, 55, was arrested on Dec. 2 after being named in a sealed indictment for sale and delivery of a Schedule III drug (Buprenorphine).

Gary Christopher Ponder, 29, was arrested after a sealed indictment was returned on him for one count of sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (Morphine).

Robert Lee Nichols, 37, was arrested on Dec. 3 after being charged in a sealed indictment for sale and delivery of a Schedule II drug (methamphetamine).