MONTICELLO — FBI, New York State Police and other law enforcement personnel executed an early morning raid at several locations in the Monticello area, apparently focused on narcotics and firearms activities.

At noon today, there will be a press conference held at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York in White Plains to announce narcotics and firearms charges and arrests of numerous defendants in a Monticello and Sullivan County-wide investigation.

Residents on High Street said they were awakened at around 4:50 a.m. by four loud bangs as helicopters hovered overhead and police swooped in on a house located between Landfield Ave. and Liberty St.

Police said the coordinated effort began in the early morning hours. It is believed that several locations in Monticello and Fallsburg were involved in the raid.

FBI agents could be seen talking to residents and collecting evidence Tuesday morning.

State Police cars were on both ends of High St., blocking the scene.

One male was spotted handcuffed and placed in the back of a State Police SUV and led away.

High St. residents said law enforcement has performed drug raids before on their block, which connects Pleasant St. to Liberty St.

A worker at an insurance company nearby, who reported to work at 3 a.m. Tuesday, said she saw a lot of police activity starting at 4:30 a.m. By 5:30 a.m., she related, patrons were reporting that police were raiding multiple residences.

We will publish more information as it becomes available.