AUGUSTA, Ga. - Thousands of dollars in drugs are off Augusta's streets. Investigators seized the drugs in what they're calling one of the biggest operations in Georgia-Carolina.

NBC Augusta 26 News was the only station on the scene as deputies made the arrests.

Twenty-one people suspected of selling drugs in this operation are in jail. Deputies are searching for at least nine others.

It was an early morning wake-up call the suspects weren't expecting. With hands behind their backs, each had to answer questions about their role in a year-long undercover narcotics investigation. Their link was Carlos Hughes.

NBC Augusta first told you about Hughes last November. Richmond County Narcotics investigators and Drug Enforcement Agents busted Hughes, finding almost a quarter million dollars in cash, two kilograms of cocaine, and several cars at two homes in south Augusta.

"Several other people were main distributors for him. Each one going down was connected to him," said Lt. Robert Partain, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.

One of the main factors in shutting down Hughes' operation was the arrests of Darryl Kirkland and Kevin Smith. Federal agents pulled them over in Atlanta last July, finding drugs and more than $217,000 in cash. Narcotics investigators tell 26 News both Kirkland and Smith were two of Hughes' main sellers.

They say the dealing would then trickle down to other guys like Christopher Mecado. Investigators arrested him Tuesday morning, finding $4,000 of marijuana and cocaine and hundreds of dollars in cash.

They also arrested Percy Dorsey who had two kilograms of cocaine worth around $50,000 on him.

Richmond County investigators say by cutting off the head of the operation, they were able put a stop to one of the biggest rings in Richmond County, but that doesn't mean their work is complete.

"Obviously Carlos Hughes is out of the picture now. Someone else will become a big dealer and get to his size," said Partain.

Investigators say this has been a year-long operation involving 30 people who are facing state and federal charges. Officers are still searching for nine of the suspects. They include Darrell Kirkland, Terrance Luke, Vincent Graham, Derrian Brown, Bruce Grier, Brian Carter, Sabrina Kelley, Daniel Pasha, Ricky Jackson, and Toi Wilson. If you know where these guys are call the Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

This operation was a joint effort between the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, Drug Enforcement Agency, and the FBI's Safe Streets task force.