The Sioux Falls Area Drug Task Force has arrested ten people and is searching for six others still at large.  What started as a routine drug investigation eight months ago evolved into a major drug bust, taking $15,000 of crack cocaine off city streets.

Of the ten arrested, three were in court Friday: 44-year-old William Watkins and 34-year-old Nakia McClinic are both of Sioux Falls. Twenty-six-year-old Amanda Campbell is from Chicago.  They and seven others face a variety of drug charges after the drug task force raided five houses and two hotels in Sioux Falls.

Warrants have been issued for six others; three are from Sioux Falls, one is from Harrisburg and two more are from Chicago.

Police say many of those surrounding the drug bust are members of a Chicago-based street gang known at the Mickey Cobras, and according to law enforcement, they came to Sioux Falls with the sole purpose of selling drugs.

They're known as the Mickey Cobra gang. And while gangs are no stranger to Sioux Falls, this one has, so far, had very little if any impact on KELOLAND communities. That is until now.

"They are very well organized street gang from the Southside of Chicago and they are trying to spread out to other cities in the Midwest,” Lt. Steve Haney of the Sioux Falls Police Department said.

Investigators believe they're doing that to expand their drug market. While the Sioux Falls arrests turned up crack cocaine, cash and paraphernalia, it didn't turn up any weapons. Still, investigators warn that Mickey Cobra gang members should be considered dangerous.

"They do have a violent past in Chicago. We have not seen any violence related to their activities here in Sioux Falls that we are aware of that was reported to the Sioux Falls Police Department,” Lt. Haney said.

This Web site about Chicago area gangs show pictures of Mickey Cobra members and explains their history dating back to 1954. But now police want any information that will lead to the arrest of the others believed to be dealing drugs in Sioux Falls.

"We have not seen members of this gang in our city before, that I'm aware of. So that's why we'd like the publics help in apprehending the six individuals that are still at large and we do have arrest warrants for,” Lt. Haney said.

Something you may find interesting, everyone involved ranges in age from 21 to 63.

The last time the Mickey Cobras were in the headlines was in 2006 when Chicago police made a major drug bust and arrested 47 gang members. They were later convicted of trafficking heroine.