Police bust up Hartford-area cocaine ring

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Federal and local authorities in Connecticut say they've arrested 20 people in a Hartford-area drug ring and seized about 28 kilograms of cocaine and $650,000 in cash.

Federal prosecutors and Drug Enforcement Administration officials said Thursday that the arrests were the result of a 10-month investigation that included wiretaps.

Authorities accuse 32-year-old Steven Velez of New Britain of trafficking cocaine and crack cocaine in the Hartford area. They say he got the drugs from 36-year-old Angel Mulero of Hartford, who received them from an out-of-state source.

A federal grand jury indicted the 20 Connecticut residents on drug crimes June 30. All were arrested by July 21.

Velez's attorney declined to comment. A message was left for Mulero's lawyer Friday.