Ogdensburg police on Tuesday charged three more people for allegedly selling drugs in the city, this time crack cocaine and ecstasy.

Among those arrested was a Syracuse man who city police believe was recruited by two residents to sell drugs in Ogdensburg.

The Ogdensburg Police Department’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit and St. Lawrence County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at an apartment at 322 King St. at about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday and charged Fernando D. “Free” Johnson, 36, of 1200 W. Colvin St., Syracuse, Jessica L. Thomas, 29, of 322 King St., Apt. 1, and Eric L. Peets, 26, of the same address. Mr. Johnson was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said he had crack cocaine and ecstasy, with intent to sell the drugs.

Mr. Peets and Ms. Thomas were each charged with first-degree criminal nuisance and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said they had a small amount of crack cocaine.

The three had been under investigation for allegedly selling crack cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, police said.

Police said the criminal nuisance charge was for Mr. Peets and Ms. Thomas renting a residence allegedly for the purpose of dealing drugs. The house is owned by Robert Brabant Jr., Ogdensburg, according to city assessor’s office records. A phone number for Mr. Brabant could not be found Tuesday.

In a news release, Det. Daniel F. Mousaw alleged Mr. Peets and Ms. Thomas had recruited Mr. Johnson in Syracuse to sell drugs in Ogdensburg. He said Mr. Johnson has an extensive criminal record.

“Sadly, this is an all-too-common theme for our city, and largely to blame for the onslaught of out-of-town dealers making their way into our community,” Mr. Mousaw said

in the release.

He was not available for additional comment Tuesday afternoon.

He said police have learned locals, in exchange for money and drugs, are recruiting street-level dealers from metropolitan communities, giving them a place to live, and providing them with transportation.

Police are placing just as much emphasis on taking down city residents who facilitate drug trafficking as they are the out-of-town dealers they aid, he said. Mr. Mousaw said in this instance, the alleged drug trafficking operation was shut down before it could gain a foothold in the community.

All three were arraigned in city court Tuesday afternoon and sent to county jail, Canton. Ms. Thomas and Mr. Peets were held on $5,000 cash or $10,000 bail bond. Mr. Johnson was jailed without bail.

Tuesday’s raid brings the total number of narcotics-related arrests in Ogdensburg since the end of February to 11. Nine of those were for crack cocaine.

Drug Task Force members aiding in Tuesday’s arrests were from the county Sheriff’s Office and K-9 Unit and the Gouverneur Police Department.

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