SAN ANTONIO – A total of 18 people have been arrested on drug charges for their involvement in an East Side narcotics trafficking ring.

Multiple federal and local agencies are still searching for five more people suspected of being involved in narcotics trafficking.

On Thursday, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus revealed the latest on a two-month operation by multiple agencies involved in the violent crime task force.

Nine people were arrested Thursday afternoon on felony narcotic charges after police executed warrants in and around the area of the 600 block of Morningview Drive. These arrests came after nine other people were arrested on federal charges in the same area one week before.

"This effort, I believe, will change the tone and tenor of things that have happened here on Morningview," said McManus.

The chief mentioned many of those arrested are not residents of the area.

"They come here to sell their drugs," said McManus.

A description of what narcotics officers recovered was not clear.