MAHANOY CITY - Two men were jailed early Friday morning after being arrested by Mahanoy City police on drug charges.

Police said Jery Delacruz, 27, of 581 N. Wyoming St., Hazleton, and Faiez Mota, 24, of 2067 E. Broad St., Beaver Meadows, were arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison each unable to post $15,000 straight cash bail.

Patrolman Jonathan McHugh charged Delacruz with felony possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance; misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary offense of driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

McHugh charged Mota with felony possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The charges against Delacruz stem from an incident about 8 p.m. Thursday in the 700 block of West Centre Street.

McHugh said about 4 p.m., he was contacted by an informant who said he would be able to buy marijuana and cocaine from Delacruz. From the borough police station, McHugh said the informant called Delacruz and said he wanted "weed" and "cocaine" and set up a meeting for later that night.

The informant went to the 700 block of West Centre Street, where officers took Delacruz into custody and seized marijuana that was in plain view on the passenger's seat.

McHugh said this incident led an informant to tell officers he would be able to buy drugs from Mota, so they set up a meeting with Mota in the 600 block of East Market Street.

When Mota arrived for the meeting, he was taken into custody and, during a search, police found a plastic bag in his front pocket that contained an additional 50 bags of a substance that tested positive for heroin.

After being advised of his Miranda Rights, McHugh said Mota told him he came to the borough from Hazleton to sell the heroin because he low on cash and needed to pay rent.

Police said the arrests are the result of tips from the public on illegal drug activity and that charges are pending against a third person as part of the ongoing investigation.

Both men will now have to appear for preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Mahanoy City police were assisted by officers from Mahanoy Township.