Seven Minneapolis gang members are facing charges of planning to distribute crack cocaine, including in the St. Cloud area.

United States Attorney Andrew Luger, Minneapolis Police Chief Janet Harteau and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Richard Thornton say they have arrested and indicted seven leaders and members of the Taliban and Young N’ Thuggin gangs on charges of secretly planning to distribute crack cocaine in the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota area.

Authorities say the gang members frequently travel to St. Cloud, Duluth, Fargo and North Dakota to sell crack. Their investigation shows that crack sold in Minneapolis sells for $20 and is $50 in Greater Minnesota and North Dakota. Also,  crack that sold for $150 dollars in the Metro area sells for between $220-250 in Greater Minnesota.

Luger says the arrested gang members use violence and intimidation to distribute drugs from Minneapolis to Fargo. Harteau says the arrest of these gang members is the result of collaborative cooperation of law enforcement agencies in Minnesota among whom the St. Cloud Violent Crimes Task Force and St. Cloud Police Department played a significant role.