FORT LEE, N.J. — A five-month investigation into an alleged Bergen County cocaine trafficking operation has ended with more than 280 kilos of cocaine, nine handguns, an assault rifle and $180,000 in cash seized by investigators.

Two men, including a Paramus resident and an Englewood resident, were arrested in the sprawling investigation that stretched from New Jersey into New York, authorities said.

Charles Gant, 62, of Paramus and Nelson Salcedo, 35, of Englewood were taken into custody without incident.

According to New Jersey State Police, investigators began zeroing in on Gant in April after identifying him as an alleged distributor of kilogram quantities of cocaine and firearms operating out of a Fort Lee home.

Investigators spent the next several months tracking locations, vehicles and alleged co-conspirators connected to the operation.

Then came the first major bust.

On Aug. 12, authorities arrested Gant in Fort Lee after allegedly watching him complete a suspected drug transaction in New York.

Search warrants at his residences and vehicles turned up 15 kilos of cocaine, a handgun and about $180,000 in cash, investigators said.

But investigators weren't done.

On Aug. 25, authorities searched three vehicles seized during Gant's arrest and discovered that all three had electronically operated hidden compartments.

Inside, investigators said they found eight handguns, an assault rifle, one kilo of cocaine and a large amount of ammunition.

The following day, authorities allegedly tracked down the operation's suspected supplier.

Investigators said surveillance teams followed Salcedo as he loaded suspected narcotics into his vehicle at a storage facility in Long Island City.

Officers stopped Salcedo after he drove away.

A search warrant allegedly uncovered 266 kilos of cocaine inside the vehicle.

Combined with the cocaine seized from Gant and the vehicles, the investigation resulted in the seizure of more than 280 kilos of the drug.

Gant faces charges including manufacturing and distributing controlled dangerous substances, possession of controlled dangerous substances, money laundering and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Salcedo faces charges of possession of controlled dangerous substances and possession with intent to distribute.

Both men were lodged in jail pending detention hearings.

The case is being prosecuted by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office and the Office of Special Narcotics in New York.