NEWPORT-About 30 law enforcement agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), two drug task forces, the Cocke County Sheriff's Department, and the Newport Police Department executed three federal search warrants on individuals in three Newport residences on Monday evening.

Newport Police Chief Maurice Shults, who said he coordinated the Newport Police Department and Cocke County Sheriff's Department officers, said this morning that two individuals were charged with misdemeanor offenses, and a third individual was expected to have his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Greeneville later today on a federal charge or charges.

Further details on the three individuals were not available at press time this morning.

Shults said the raids were strictly related to illegal drug activities, and not counterfeit money, which is part of a separate investigation.

The two drug task forces involved in the operation were the Fourth District Drug Task Force and the HIDTA Drug Task Force.

Shults described the arrests as "part of an ongoing investigation," and that the entire effort lasted from about 5 p.m. to midnight on Monday.