Police arrest 56 in drug sweep

AUGUSTA - Police said they arrested 56 small-time drug dealers Friday after seven months of undercover investigations. <br> <br> The arrests targeted street-level dealers throughout Richmond County, said Sheriff Ronnie Strength. <br> <br> ``The street-level dealers are the ones that (the sheriff&#39;s office) receives more complaints about from the public because that&#39;s (who) they see,&#39;&#39; Strength said. ``These types of operations will continue until the people selling drugs in our community no longer exist.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Most of the drugs bought by undercover agents were powder cocaine and crack cocaine, said Lt. Robert Partain. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation Drug Task Force purchased cocaine, crack, marijuana, heroin, methamphetamines and ecstasy from 80 suspects since January. <br> <br> The drugs&#39; street value wasn&#39;t known, Partain said. One drug sale to undercover agents included a quarter-pound of marijuana. <br> <br> Four juveniles were arrested, but a complete list was not available, he said.