AUBURN – Three New York men were arrested Thursday and charged with dealing drugs out of a Highland Avenue apartment. Two of the men face additional charges after jail officials said they found cocaine and marijuana concealed in body cavities.

While they searched an apartment building during the raid, police said they were constantly interrupted by a steady stream of people showing up in hopes of buying drugs.

The afternoon bust was part of an investigation that began weeks ago but which intensified earlier this week. Drug investigators said the three men have been dealing cocaine and pot to a steady stream of customers from 37 Highland Ave.

“They were occupying the entire second and third floors,” said Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Supervisor Gerry Baril. “They were servicing customers within walking distance of the apartment.”

On Thursday, drug agents posing as customers nabbed one of the men as he carried two ounces of cocaine to what he thought was going to be a coke for cash transaction, police said.

Agents arrested 22-year-old Jason “G” Pritchard of Brooklyn on the spot, police said. They then went to 37 Highland Ave. to search for evidence of more drugs. There, they found Eric “E” Lynch, 22, and Rasheem “Ras” Johnson, 23, both of Brooklyn, inside the apartment.

“Rasheem is the leader,” Baril said. “It appears that ‘E’ was the lookout and ‘G’ was the runner.”

Baril said they found three grams of crack cocaine on Johnson as well as $3,350 in cash. The three men were taken to the Androscoggin County Jail where the situation got worse for Johhnson and Lynch.

“They were warned that if they were concealing drugs on their person, they would face additional charges,” Baril said. “It turns out they had contraband concealed in their rectums. One had marijuana, one had cocaine.”

Baril said the hidden drugs were discovered during a strip search as part of the booking process.

Already charged with aggravated trafficking in cocaine and pot, Lynch was charged additionally with trafficking in prison contraband.

Johnson was charged with the same thing in addition to conspiracy to possess and traffic cocaine. Pitchard was charged with trafficking in cocaine and possession with intent to distribute.

While MDEA agents and Auburn police searched the Highland Avenue apartment, several people showed up with large amounts of cash.

“We were opening the doors to customers. They kept coming and coming,” Baril said. “We took their statements that they had been doing business with ‘G’ and ‘E.”

The three men remained at the Androscoggin County Jail later Thursday night.