TRENTON -- The raids at multiple Trenton locations early Thursday were a planned take down of members of a heroin trafficking network whose members kept guns at the ready to enforce their trade, federal authorities said.

Officers arrested six people and announced charges against 10. Two were already in custody and two remain at large, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey said.

Authorities said the operation's leader was Ishmael "Ish" Abdullah, a 26-year-old Trenton resident who also uses the names "Gangsta" and "Papi." He was among those arrested Thursday in the raids.

All 10 suspects face a federal charge of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, and Abdullah and Christopher Proctor, 22, who uses the street names "Bris" and "Bris Broctor" are charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman and other federal and local authorities said the joint investigations, which spanned a year, reinforce all levels of law enforcement's commitment to work together to rid city streets of drug crime and violence it brings.

"This joint investigation and the arrests of these individuals, who plagued city neighborhoods to further their drug trafficking network, is not only a win for law enforcement but a victory for the citizens of this city who have had to live under those brutal conditions," Trenton Police Director Ernest Parrey Jr. said in the statement.

Authorities have been investigating the alleged heroin trafficking since June 2015. Earlier this year, investigators obtained wiretaps for dealers' phone calls and read their text messages, officials said in a statement.

That, coupled with multiple undercover heroin purchases, led investigators to determine that Abdullah was running a significant heroin business, authorities said. He bought the drugs from suppliers Jose Joaquin Torres-Mezquita, 30, of Philadelphia, and Ileana "Lilly" Sanchez, 30, of Trenton.

Torres-Mezquita, who goes by "Alex Torres" and "Papi," and and Sanchez were arrested Thursday.

The operation was headquartered in the Spring and Passaic streets neighborhood and Keith "Meech" Hunter, 24, coordinated the sales with Abdullah, officials said. Hunter remained at large Thursday.

Abdullah's crew spoke in code on prepaid phones, used stash houses to store heroin and maintained joint access to firearms. Authorities said they listened in as members discussed drug quality, pricing and consumer satisfaction.

In one conversation in September described in federal complaints, Torres and Abdullah allegedly discussed how Abdullah was going to pay the a $21,000 to $22,000 drug debt he owed to Torres and his associates.

Abdullah suggested selling his Rolex watch, authorities said.

"It's nice, it got a red face and diamonds in it and everything," Abdullah allegedly said. Torres called back and said his group would accept the watch as a pay down on the debt.

Once Abdullah's group purchased heroin, they allegedly sold heroin it in "brick" form to lesser dealers, authorities said. Their bricks contained about one gram of heroin, and were further divided into "bundles," which contained about a fifth of a gram, authorities said.

The brands names of the heroin included "Hot Sauce" and "Tiffany" and "Black Scorpion," federal complaints state.

Authorities did not say if any narcotics were seized in the raids.

Also arrested Thursday were: Bernadino "BG" Guervil, 28 of Trenton; Prince Sarnoe, 29, Trenton; and India Daniels, 23, of Morrisville, Pa. Previously arrested was Thomas Rogers, 22, of Trenton, who uses the names "Herb" and "T-Rod."

Ishmael Abdullah's brother, Elijah "Uncle E" Abdullah, 21, of Trenton is listed as a fugitive with Hunter.

Trenton police said in addition to five houses on the 100 block of Passaic Street, and locations on nearby Spring and West Hanover streets, officers executed warrants on the 100 block of Columbus Avenue and the 100 block of Bert Avenue.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.