STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Twelve people have been arrested in connection with a takedown of a drug-dealing network that sold cocaine and heroin throughout Staten Island, the district attorney and NYPD announced Friday.

Six dealers were arrested on felony drug charges and six others were apprehended as a result of search warrant executions in which narcotics and related paraphernalia were seized, according to a joint statement from District Attorney Michael E. McMahon and NYPD Commissioner William J. Bratton.

The network, which grossed about $7,500 a week in sales, includes several suspects believed to be associated with the Latin Kings gang, the statement said.

At least two Staten Islanders who overdosed this year were allegedly linked to the group, based on information obtained through the Staten Island Overdose Response Initiative created earlier this year by McMahon and the NYPD.

"This operation signifies another crucial step taken by my office and the NYPD to attack Staten Island's drug epidemic at its core, and proves that by investigating all overdoses through our Staten Island Overdose Response Initiative, law enforcement can more effectively takedown the dealers responsible for flooding our communities with heroin and other illicit narcotics," McMahon said.

Dubbed "Operation Trusted Source," the six-month investigation began in January and employed undercover officers who targeted the Midland Beach-based network, which sold narcotics to people in Dongan Hills, New Dorp, Arrochar, Port Richmond, Castleton Corners, Manor Heights and New Springville, the joint statement said.

The alleged dealers who were arrested Wednesday were identified as:

David Ruiz, who allegedly sold heroin and/or cocaine on eight occasions between Feb. 12 and July 13.

Katrin Snyder, who allegedly sold heroin and/or cocaine on 13 occasions between Feb. 2 and June 9.

Tonianne Lipari, who allegedly sold heroin and/or cocaine on three occasions between Feb. 2 and April 19.

Dina Sugrue, who allegedly sold heroin and/or cocaine on 16 occasions between Jan. 19 and June 25.

Anthony Johnson, 29, of Ann Street in Port Richmond, who allegedly sold heroin and/or cocaine on two occasions between Jan. 28 and Feb. 17.

Angela French, who allegedly sold heroin and/or cocaine on two occasions between Feb. 5 and March 29.

Search warrants executed Wednesday at seven locations yielded various quantities of heroin, cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana, as well as cash, scales, narcotics packaging materials and paraphernalia, McMahon's office and the NYPD said.

Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives recovered 634 bags of heroin as well as various quantities of crack and cocaine, McMahon's office and the NYPD said.

The NYPD and the D.A.'s office said that arrested during the execution of the search warrants were: Sandy French-Safar, 70, of Burgher Avenue in Dongan Hills; Delilah Aleman, 19, of Clove Road in West Brighton; John Estrada, 36, of Midland Avenue in Midland Beach; Luis Nieves, 23, of Burgher Avenue in Dongan Hills; Krissy Esposito, 26, of Midland Avenue in Midland Beach; Brian Gonzalez, 26, of Burgher Avenue in Dongan Hills.

"These arrests announced today are exactly the kind of results we were seeking when we announced the creation of the Overdose Response Initiative just six months ago," Bratton said. "At least two overdoses have been traced back to these individuals, who allegedly peddled heroin and cocaine in Staten Island, which has been particularly hard-hit by the opioid epidemic."

"I want to commend the NYPD detectives of Narcotics Borough Staten Island for their dedicated work in pursuing this investigation, and my assistant district attorneys who diligently brought the indictments," McMahon said. "Far too many lives have already been lost to the scourge of heroin in our borough, but the public can remain confident that my prosecutors and the police will ensure that those responsible for peddling poison in our communities are kept off the streets and put behind bars."

The investigation's moniker was taken from the nickname of suspect David (Trust) Ruiz, who previously served time in state prison for felony robbery, McMahon's office and the NYPD said.