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FRANKLIN COUNTY, N.Y. -- A year long, multi-agency investigation has lead to the arrest of more than 20 drug dealers in Franklin County this month. Police say 18 of those individuals were arrested Tuesday morning.

Some were arraigned and others were sent directly to the Franklin and St. Lawrence County Jails. The suspects were arrested for dealing heroin and cocaine, as well as prescription drugs.

Authorities say they believe many of these people are also abusing their Medicaid benefits.

"Most of these people are on public assistance, so basically, they're taking the prescription drugs that basically the tax payers are buying for them, paying for them and they're selling them back on the streets," Malone Police Chief Christopher Primo said.

"This is a large number of people selling prescription drugs, so we're hoping that with further investigation and the possibility of Medicaid charges also following that, it will have a chilling affect initially and it'll be successful," said Franklin County Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Crawford said.

Police say no narcotics or firearms were confiscated.

Three warrants are still outstanding.