Narcotics officers scored big in arresting two alleged heroin dealers doing business in Butler County.

In all, one large bag and dozens of smaller bags of suspected heroin, two stolen guns and thousands of dollars were collectively seized from the suspected traffickers’ homes, authorities said.

Charged this week were Jesse T. Lackovic, 21, of Zelienople and Vernon A. Daniels Jr., 28, of Natrona Heights, Allegheny County. Both men are in the Butler County Prison.

The Butler County Drug Task Force in early February targeted Lackovic, who they believed was selling narcotics.

A police informant and an undercover officer were used between Feb. 9 and 19 when three heroin buys were made during the investigation.

The drug deals played out at different locations, including Cranberry Township, Pittsburgh and at Lackovic’s house on Lacona Lane, according to court documents.

Task force officer Matthew Irvin, who also is a Cranberry police detective, led the investigation and eventually obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s home.

Inside, officers found 70 bags of suspected heroin and other drug contraband, and two loaded handguns. One of those guns, a .380-caliber pistol, Lackovic admitted, was given to him ”as payment for heroin,” documents said.

The task force Tuesday arrested Lackovic on charges of delivery and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and receiving stolen property, all felonies.

He also is charged with misdemeanor drug possession.

He remains in the county prison on $50,000 bail.

Daniels has been in the county prison since a March 16 traffic stop in Buffalo Township turned up 200 glassine of heroin, state police said.

That traffic stop culminated a nearly yearlong investigation of the defendant, authorities said.

Daniels, according to county prosecutors, was suspected of “delivering large amounts (of) heroin” into the county “on a daily basis.”

Following the investigation last month, state police vice officers served a search warrant at Daniels’ rental home.

Among the items found was a stolen 9 mm pistol, documents said.

Also seized was a “large plastic baggie containing unpackaged heroin,” additional baggies of crack cocaine and marijuana, and $2,390 in currency.

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s office agreed to have the charges from the search of Daniels’ home filed in Butler County. Those charges were filed Wednesday.

Patricia McLean, first assistant district attorney in Butler County, had sought that agreement because of the drug investigation in the county.

District Judge Sue Haggerty on Wednesday arraigned Daniels, a felon, on felony and misdemeanor drug possession charges.

He also is charged with three additional felonies for possessing the stolen gun.

Following arraignment, he waived to court those charges as well as the charges stemming from the traffic stop.

Daniels is in the county prison on $150,000 bail.