WEST HAVEN -- A New Haven man and two others were arrested in a drug investigation that turned up more than $20,000 worth of crack cocaine at an Econo Lodge Motel, police said.

Alexander Vargas, 51, is facing numerous charges including six counts of possession of a controlled substance, operating a drug factory, possession with intent to sell more than a half ounce of cocaine after he was arrested Tuesday afternoon, West Haven police Sgt. Scott Allard said in a news release Wednesday. Police also arrested Nicole Dube, 51, of New Haven, and Shalia Russell, 41, of Fairfield, in the investigation.

Allard said police started investigating the illegal distribution of crack cocaine and fentanyl from an motel room in West Haven in April, and police learned that a man was accepting stolen goods and merchandise or cash in exchange for the drugs.

Police determined that Vargas was a suspect and acquired three arrest warrants for him, Allard said. He said police also acquired a search and seizure warrant for the motel.

Police conducted a motor vehicle stop of Vargas on Tuesday afternoon, and, after his arrest, Allard says officials searched the hotel room.

The search turned up a rifle, a handgun, 269 rounds of ammunition, four high-capacity magazines, 207.9 grams of crack cocaine with an approximate street value of $20,790, 177 wax folds with heroin and fentanyl with a street value of $1,770, 78 prescription pills, 40 counterfeit pressed fentanyl pills, as well as candy, energy drinks and clothes that police believed were stolen, Allard said.

Allard said Vargas was further charged with two counts of possession with intent to sell a narcotic substance, possession with intent to sell a non-narcotic substance, illegal possession of an assault weapon, four counts of illegal possession of large-capacity magazines, two counts of criminal possession of a firearm, illegally obtaining prescription pills, and three counts each of possession of a controlled substance and sale of a narcotic substance.

Vargas is being held on a $650,000 bond, Allard said.

Dube, who had outstanding warrants out of Derby, Shelton, Norwalk, and Fairfield, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and operating a drug factory, Allard said.

Russell also had two outstanding warrants out of Fairfield, Allard said.