It's the largest drug sweep ever in the state of Kentucky.  Police arrested hundreds of people in a massive roundup involving prescription drugs.

Investigators say a large number of patients at southern Florida pain clinics would return to Kentucky with drugs such as methadone and oxycontin and sell them here illegally.

A three-year criminal investigation led to the arrests, mostly in eastern Kentucky.  Two hundred others were arrested in other states.  Bob McBride of the U.S. Attorney's office says, "At this time, approximately five hundred individuals have been charged with crimes in numerous counties in state court and in federal court with charges related to the illegal trafficking of prescription drugs."

Police say the arrests strike at the heart of major drug trafficking organizations and cripple illegal prescription drug pipelines.  Last year, Kentucky led the nation in use of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes.