Nine Washington residents were arrested in a drug sweep by Washington police.

The culmination of an undercover investigation spanning several months, warrants were issued Monday for 12 people. Three are still wanted, according to a press release by the Washington Police Department.

The following people were arrested: Ernest Sanchez Moore, 26, of West 13^th Street, on charges of felony manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana within 1,000 feet of a park and possession of drug paraphernalia; Miko Elizabeth Hardy, 36, of West 13^th Street, on charges of felony manufacture, sell or deliver marijuana within 1,000 feet of a park and possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a dwelling place for controlled substance; Ronnie Eugene Knight, 54, of Harvey Street, charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; Tevin Demitrus Tobin, 22, of Plant Street, charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine within 1,000 feet of a daycare, possession of drug paraphernalia and resist public officer; James Earl Staton, 40, of Greenville, charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver heroin (33 dosage units) within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of drug paraphernalia; Robert Rafael Clark, 24, of West Eighth Street, on charges of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school, felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine within 1,000 feet of a daycare and possession of drug paraphernalia; Arthur Lee Moore, 62, of James Drive, charged with felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school and possession of drug paraphernalia. Warrants also were obtained on Kolron Marcell Moore, 31, of Park View Drive, charged with three counts of felony possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school and three counts of possession of drug paraphernalia. Kolron Moore was arrested Tuesday by Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

Another man was arrested after officers seized seven firearms — four pistols, two shotguns and one rifle — during the investigation, according to a press release from Washington police Lt. William Chrismon. Kareem Amean Saleeby, 63, of Nicholson Street, was charged with felony possession of firearm by a felon.

So many arrests at one time is unusual for Washington — the drug sweep, however, is a strategy Police and Fire Director Stacy Drakeford is familiar with.

“I’m used to doing things like this in my previous job,” Drakeford said. “It’s not about making a statement — it’s more about us trying to utilize the resources that we have.”

Chrismon said more arrests are expected soon.

“Our guys are doing a good job keeping total crime down — every arrest counts,” Chrismon said. “This is just a small part of what we do for the community.”