Police raided the homes of a pair of brothers and made a string of arrests Wednesday as part of a year-long investigation into a local methamphetamine and cocaine-dealing operation.

The Northwest Regional Drug Taskforce, a multi-agency drug investigation group, served search warrants at the homes of Bodie L. Gwinner, 2141 Mount Baker Highway, and Matthew Gwinner, 2613 Dakin St., in Bellingham. They also raided several rooms at the Whispering Firs Motel in Alger, finding a half-pound of methamphetamine, which has a street value of around $10,000.

Bellingham Police Lt. Rick Sucee said an estimated 15 arrests were made in connection with the operation, which centered on the two brothers’ properties and circle of friends.

Bodie Gwinner was arrested without incident and booked into Whatcom County Jail. Police are still searching for Matthew Gwinner, who was not home when officers served the search warrant. The names of the rest of the arrested suspects were unavailable Wednesday evening.

Sucee said “very little” methamphetamine was found at either property, but that police have gathered enough evidence of extensive dealing of meth, cocaine and the prescription drug oxycodone from the properties to warrant the arrests.

“Dealers like these don’t like to keep large supplies around,” Sucee said. “They try to get it and move it quickly. They don’t want to get ripped off.”

Police spent Wednesday morning combing through a white garage on the 27-acre Mount Baker Highway property with a drug-sniffing dog. Sucee said police seized two vehicles and a boat from the property, as well as a large motor home at the Alger-area motel, where four people were arrested.

Neighbors of Matthew Gwinner said the house often had late-night visitors and suspicious activity. Police said they had received 43 calls regarding the house since 2004.

Denny and Barb Brewer, who have lived next door for the last 35 years, said they had known the Gwinner family for a long time. They said Roberta Gwinner, the mother of the brothers, died several years ago, leaving the two houses she owned to her sons.

“Since then, it’s just been chaotic over there,” Barb Brewer said.

Bodie Gwinner was convicted of manufacturing marijuana in 2003 and sentenced to two months in jail, according to Whatcom County Superior Court records.

Gwinner was also charged with cocaine possession last year after an officer allegedly discovered the drug in his vehicle after pulling him over for having expired license plate tabs. Gwinner had the charge dropped in exchange for pleading guilty to jumping bail during the case and was sentenced to three months in jail on Aug. 13 of this year, according to court records.

The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Bellingham Police, Border Patrol, Washington State Patrol and Skagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit all participated in the bust.