JERSEY CITY -- The investigation into a large-scale, Hudson County-based drug organization culminated in the seizure of seven kilos of cocaine and $180,000, as well as the arrest of 13 people across several states and Puerto Rico.

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced today that the probe concluded with the execution of search warrants in Hudson County, Puerto Rico, Mississippi and Florida on April 25.

The warrants were executed by various agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and several local, state and federal law enforcement entities, said Gene Rubino, acting chief of investigations for the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.

The investigation started in January after law enforcement received information suggesting Carlos Rios, 25, of Union City, headed a local organization that was acquiring kilos of cocaine shipped to the New York/New Jersey area by Victor Noble-Canales, 54, of Puerto Rico, via the U.S. Postal Service, Rubino said.

Rios then allegedly used associates, including Ricky Cedeno, 24, and Michael Carrasco, 25, both of Union City, and Xavier Pena, 28, of the Bronx, to obtain the packages when they arrived on the U.S. mainland, Rubino said.

Also identified as part of the organization were Yemile Ortiz, 24, of Union City, and Josephine Pacheco, 27, of Florida, who are believed to have participated in laundering proceeds derived from the distribution of the cocaine, Rubino said.

Noble-Canales was arrested in Puerto Rico on April 16 by members of the Caribbean Division of the DEA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A 9mm handgun, a large sum of U.S. currency, and a large quantity of cocaine and marijuana were also seized, Rubino said.

Rios, Noble-Canales and Johnny Olmedo, 58, of Brooklyn, are charged with leading a narcotics trafficking organization, conspiracy to distribute cocaine in a quantity greater than 5 ounces, conspiracy to commit financial facilitation and financial facilitation, Rubino said.

All three face 10 to 20 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge alone. Noble-Canales' bail has been set at $1 million cash only and bail for Rios and Olmedo has been set at $750,000 cash only, Rubino said.

Others charged with lesser drug and financial offenses are Cedeno, Ortiz, Pacheco, Pena, Carrasco, Wilfredo Montanez, 34, of Jersey City and Union City residents Carlos Mendoza-Rivera, 25; Jesus Rosario, 24; Jose Lopez, 28, and Jake Rivera, 28, Rubino said.

Also involved in the investigation were the Hudson County Sheriff's Office, Hudson County Department of Corrections, and Union City, North Bergen, Harrison, Kearny and Secaucus police.