Aurora men arrested after yearlong drug investigation

Two Aurora men were arrested in Oklahoma Tuesday on federal drug charges as part of a yearlong narcotics distribution ring investigation.

Authorities arrested 40-year-old Pablo Vega Cuevas and his brother-in-law, Alexander Figueroa, 37, while three others were arrested in the Chicago area Tuesday as well. Arrest warrants were issued for three others, authorities said.

Prosecutors accuse Vega Cuevas of running the "Chicago cell" of a Mexican drug cartel. The investigation that started in August 2013 resulted in the seizure of nearly 150 pounds of heroin, almost 20 pounds of cocaine and more than $500,000, according to court papers.

Vega Cuevas is accused of importing the drugs from Mexico, concealing the drugs in commercial passenger buses, according to court papers.

Another Aurora man, 50-year-old Eliseo Betancourt Pereira, was one of the men arrested locally Tuesday. He is accused of distributing heroin to other dealers.

A North Aurora man, Wilfredo Flores-Santos, 43, is wanted in connection with the investigation.

All eight men face a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted of the drug distribution charges they are facing.