Eight people face charges after police say they were operating an open-air drug market in the Selbyville area.

The Delaware State Police Sussex County Drug Unit culminated a three-month-long drug investigation on Aug. 22 into illegal drug sales in the Pollybranch area of Selbyville, executing two search warrants at residences in Selbyville and Frankford, said Sgt. Richard Bratz of the Delaware State Police.

During the execution of the Selbyville warrant in the 30000 block of Washington Avenue, Bratz said, Jayquan Bland was standing in front of a home engaging in hand-to-hand drug transactions, and he threw a plastic bag containing 216 bags of heroin. While searching the home occupied by Janie Handy, Bratz said, police found $2,938 in suspected drug proceeds, seven bags of powder cocaine, eight suboxone strips, and 4.29 grams of marijuana. A 9-year-old child was present during the execution of the search warrant, and Division of Family Services was notified, he said.

Delane Jacobs was sitting in a Nissan Altima parked near the home when detectives contacted him and detected the smell of marijuana, Bratz said. Police searched the vehicle and found .44 grams of powder cocaine, $612 in suspected drug proceeds and two suboxone strips.

In Frankford, Bratz said, police issued a warrant in the 30000 block of Frankford School Road at a home maintained by Jeremiah Handy and Ashley Drummond. Inside, police seized 5,380 bags of heroin (37.66 grams), 7 grams of marijuana, a loaded Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun and $22,979 in suspected drug proceeds. Detectives also seized $25,000 in assets from Handy and Drummond’s bank account. A 12-year-old child was in the home and later turned over to the maternal grandmother. Division of Family Services was notified.

In total, Bratz said, detectives seized 5,596 bags of heroin (39.172 grams), $51,529 in suspected drug proceeds, 3.62 grams of powder cocaine, 11.29 grams of marijuana, 10 suboxone strips and a loaded 9mm handgun.

The Delaware State Police Sussex Drug Unit and the Governor’s Task Force worked with the Worcester County Maryland Criminal Enforcement Team, National Guard Counter Drug Programs of Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey, Drug Enforcement Administration, Ocean City Police Department Narcotics Unit and the Selbyville Police Department during the raids.

The following people were charged:

• Jeremiah Handy, 32, of Selbyville, and Ashley Drummond, 30, of Frankford with possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession heroin, possession firearm by person prohibited, money laundering and endangering the welfare of a child. They were arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution – Handy in default of $126,000 cash bond and Drummond in default of $130,000 secured bond.

• Janie C. Handy, 28, of Selbyville with possession with intent to deliver cocaine, maintaining a drug property, possession suboxone, endangering welfare of child and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to SCI in default of $10,500 cash bond.

• Jayquan Bland, 17, of Laurel with possession with intent to deliver heroin, tampering physical evidence, possession drug paraphernalia, drug dealing and second-degree conspiracy. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Stevenson House Detention Center in default of $12,250 cash bond.

• Delane Jacobs, 30, of Selbyville with possession cocaine, possession suboxone, two counts of possession drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned before Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to SCI in default of $1,501 secured bond.

• Phillip Michael Smith, 29, of Frankford with drug dealing. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to SCI in default of $50,000 cash bond.

• David M. Mitchell Jr., 25, of Selbyville with drug dealing and second-degree conspiracy. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to SCI in default of $22,253 secured bond.

• Tycere Bryant, 17, of Selbyville with drug dealing. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Stevenson House Detention Center in default of $20,000 secured bond.

Police continue to search for the following:

• Frederick M. Lynch, 23, of Georgetown

• Deshawn C. Handy, 34, of Selbyville

• Edward L. Collick, 28, of Greenwood

• Cornell V. Gray, 33, of Greenwood

• Timothy E. Sample, 28, of Millville

• Jhajuanye Q. Johnson, 23, of Selbyville

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call Sgt. M. Dawson at 302-752-3815. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or on the internet at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com.