An undercover operation to catch employees selling alcohol to minors led to the arrest of nine people by the Natchez Police Department Wednesday.

Police conducted the raid in conjunction with the state attorney general’s office. The officers used a 17-year-old and a 20-year-old in the operation and visited 30 city businesses.

Police plan to conduct more undercover operations in the future.

&uot;We will continue our efforts to eliminate the underage-drinking problem here in Natchez,&uot; said Natchez Police Chief Willie Huff.

The police arrested employees at Morgantown Exxon, Johnson’s Texaco, Bypass Exxon, Franklin Street Package Store, Gas Lane No. 4, Spirits Wines and Liquors, J.R’s Food Mart, Christine and Henry’s and Kaiser Food and Fuel. The minors were not asked to show identification to purchase alcohol at these business, Huff said.

The nine people arrested were Beverly King, 41, 3B Dumas Drive; Dorothy P. Lambert, 50, Rt. 4, Box 282, Natchez; Tracy A. Pree, 29, Rt. 4, Box 217, Natchez; Sarah E. Latham, 30, 419B Watts Ave.; Pamela D. Longmire, 24, 2807 Miller Ave.; Antalya S. Dunmore, 23, 10 Reba&160;Christian Road; LaRonda D. Owens, 25, 14 Kings Lane; Little I. Hargrave Jr., 39, 134 Otis Redding Drive; and Betty Whitney, 50, 22&160;Whitney Road.

They were all charged with the sale of beer/wine to a minor and released on $634 bonds. The offense is punishable by up to a $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail.

The police department decided to step up its fight against underage drinking after it offered drinking education programs in local schools.

&uot;We received complaints from parents and concerns from students that alcohol and beer were available fairly easily in Natchez,&uot; Huff said.

About 110 businesses in Natchez sell alcohol, including restaurants and bars.