Investigators arrested 49 people in a drug trafficking ring bust in Paterson, New Jersey officials announced Tuesday.

Of the 49 people arrested as a result of Operation Pittfall, 18 were directly affiliated with the ring operating out of Paterson's Fourth Ward section, including the leader who is a suspected gang member.

New Jersey Attorney General Christopher Porrino said the bust will go a long way toward making the city a better place to live.

“Taking out a major drug network like this one will help make life safer and more secure for the residents of Paterson and, in particular, residents in the Fourth Ward,” Porrino said. “We know that heroin is often laced with fentanyl, and, unfortunately, users of this illicit drug are playing Russian roulette, not knowing when the dose that they get is going to be a lethal one."

Officials said the drug ring distributed large quantities of heroin and crack cocaine. They also found a number of weapons and believe the drug ring used firearms to defend its turf.