HYDEN – A father and son suspected of peddling drugs throughout Leslie County for nearly a decade were among those arrested Monday by Operation UNITE.

John Ed Holland, 62, and Elbert Holland, 38, of Bear Branch in the Rockhouse community of Leslie County, also face additional charges after a large quantity of drugs and guns were found at their home.

“We have been receiving complaints on the Hollands since the mid-2000s,” said Paul Hays, law enforcement director for UNITE. “It wasn’t until recently that we were able to get the breaks needed to make an arrest.”

Arrest warrants for 18 individuals were issued for drug trafficking following an undercover investigation that spanned 11 months, Hays said, adding Leslie County Sheriff Paul Howard and his department were active partners from the very beginning.

Most of the cases involved the sale of the prescription drugs Oxycodone, Hydrocodone and Methadone. In addition, police also discovered marijuana sales.

Assisting UNITE detectives on Monday were officers from the Leslie County Sheriff’s Office, Kentucky State Police, and a Leslie County constable.

When police went to arrest the Hollands, they conducted a search of both the house of John Ed Holland, a convicted felon, and a family business housed in a garage on the property owned by his son.

Police confiscated approximately 900 pills, more than 40 guns and a small amount of cash. Additional charges will be sought as a result of this discovery.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 11 of the suspects had been arrested and lodged in the Leslie County Detention Center. They are:

• Fred Blair, 52, of Greasy, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Donald Coots, 63, of Big Laurel, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Eddie Coots, 47, of Big Laurel, two counts second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Karen Ann Morgan Couch, 34, of Stinnett, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and second-degree persistent felony offender.

• Elbert Holland, 38, of Rockhouse, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• John Ed Holland, 62, of Rockhouse, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Donald Hoskins, 39, of Stinnett, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Eugene Johnson, 31, of Hyden, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Elmo Scruggs, 48, of Wooton, third-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Ronald Sizemore, 51, of Rockhouse, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

• Sharon Timberland, 41, of Hyden, first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

Police were continuing to seek the other suspects as of Tuesday afternoon.