Edmonton Police have charged 51 people in a sting called 'dial-a-doper', with more than 120 criminal charges.

The three-week crack down focused on street-level drug dealers, typically these people are the first point of contact for the majority of drug users in Edmonton.

"They are the bottom of the pyramid but that is the foundation with out this dial-a-dopers they have no means of getting it out there," said Sgt. Greg Preston, with Edmonton Police.

During the three week sting, 51 people were charged, and more than 120 criminal charges were laid, with over $14,500 in cash seized along with cocaine, crack, and meth.

Mike Ryan, a former drug dealer, estimates four to 5000 dealers work in northern Alberta. He says these arrests may actually spawn an increase in drug activity.

"They will have to work harder. In my years when I was trafficking and I got arrested there was always the legal fees you had to pay, so it's a vicious cycle," he said.

Ryan is now the head of Clean Scene, a program aimed at helping youth get out of, or stay away from, the drug trade.

Six vehicles were also seized in the sting including, a 2000 Jeep Cherokee, 2003 Nissan Sentra, 2003 GMC Yukon, 2003 Acura, 2004 Acura TL, and a 2005 Ford F150.

In total, 45 males and six females were charged with numerous offences including, trafficking, possession for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of the proceeds of crime.

More than 40 people have been released from custody, and one officer tells CTV he expects some of the same people again, during the next sting. Three additional youths were also charged, but cannot be named.