Arkansas News Bureau

LITTLE ROCK — A federal indictment announced today names 31 people in Lonoke and Prairie counties accused of drug and weapons charges.

U.S. Attorney Jane Duke said eight people have been arrested and the rest would be summoned to appear in court.

In the indictment, 29 of 31 defendants are are charged with conspiring to possess methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to distribute.

“As this indictment demonstrates, large-scale drug trafficking is not just a problem in the urban areas of our state,” Duke said.

The charges stem from a two-year investigation by state and federal authorities, an operation known as “Evil Eye.”