The suspects - all of them arrested on felony charges of drug conspiracy - included a pharmacist, a hairdresser, an exotic dancer, a gymnastics teacher and a former bouncer at a popular gay bar in the Theater District.

And most of their customers, according to federal agents, were young people who did not realize how dangerous the drugs can be.

"There's no allegation that any of the bar owners were involved in trafficking," said Peter Smith, a supervisor of investigations with the federal Department of Homeland Security. "But people should be aware that this stuff is being sold in bars on Chippewa Street, Main Street, in the Theater District and elsewhere."

According to court papers, one of the drug network's main suppliers was Kenneth Miller, 35, of Lackawanna. Miller was identified as a former doorman at Club Marcella on Main Street.

Prosecutor Mary Clare Kane said Miller and Edward Wolowiec, 48, of Kenmore, were actively trafficking in "club drugs" in the Buffalo area. She said that many of the other suspects arrested Wednesday received their drugs from Miller and Wolowiec.

Kane alleged that Miller and other doormen at the downtown club sold patrons Ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine, a cat tranquilizer with hallucinogenic properties.

"(An informant) claimed to have purchased narcotics at this location on approximately 20 different occasions," Mark E. Reimann, a customs enforcement agent, said in an affidavit.

Court documents make several references to trafficking at Club Marcella, but one of the bar's owners, Joseph Guagliardo, vehemently denied that any illegal drugs are sold there.

"Not in my bar," Guagliardo said in an interview after the arrests. "My staff, my people hate me because they know I would destroy them if we found out anybody was selling drugs here. I'd call 911."

While three law enforcement officials said Miller has worked in the club as recently as last month, Guagliardo and his club manager, Richard Lindner, said Miller has not worked there in at least two years.

"He used to work here. He does come here about once a month. He was here last weekend," Lindner said of Miller. "But I've never seen him do anything suspicious."

According to State Liquor Authority records, Club Marcella has never been penalized for anything involving drug sales since it received its liquor license in 1995. The bar was penalized six times in 1998 and 1999 for selling alcohol to minors.

The drugs are smuggled into Western New York from Canada, where they are manufactured, Smith said.

Defense attorney Thomas J. Eoannou represents Christine Walsh, 29, of Connecticut Street, a gymnastics teacher who was arrested in the case early Wednesday morning.

"To me, it appears that many of these defendants are users, not drug suppliers," Eoannou said.

". . . I think this is a case where the government arrested 30 people when they should have charged about three," he said.

If convicted of the felony charge of conspiracy, each of the defendants could face a mandatory sentence of at least five years in prison, Eoannou said.

Another suspect, Vito Lavango, 34, of Love Road, Grand Island, was identified in court as a licensed pharmacist.

"(Lavango) is a family man, with no previous criminal record, and he's pleaded not guilty to these charges," said his attorney, Joseph M. LaTona.

In addition to Lavango, Miller, Walsh and Wolowiec, charges were filed against:

Juan Acevedo, 24, of Amherst Street; Angela Bella, 24, and Dean D'Amico, 29, of Hertel Avenue; Ryan Brunner, 22, of East Robinson Road, North Tonawanda; Michael Caligiuri, 38, of Sanders Road; Jonathan Casey, 27, of Connecticut Street; Katherine Dickenson, 23, of Hamburg; George Ferris, 23, of Jewett Parkway.

Diina France, 23, address unavailable; Robert Fraser, 36, of Bedell Road, Grand Island; Andre Garner, 27, of Tracy Street; Sarah Jankowski, 28, of Lackawanna; April Leiker, 23, of Mallory Street, Town of Tonawanda; Jennifer LoTempio, 22, and Nicholas Abramo, 29, both of Holly Lane, Town of Tonawanda.

Nicole MacPherson, 30, of Ontario; Michael Marcucci, 34, of Dingens Street; Michael Olejarz, 24, of Slate Creek Drive, Cheektowaga; Jodi Olszewski, 34, of Porter Road, Niagara Falls; Dan Schooley, 24, of Lackawanna; Geoff Sweeney, 27, Nicole Flierl, 30, and Lynn Heberlein, 24, all of Dakota Street; Louis Tiburzi Jr., 23, of Lackawanna; and Matthew Watson, 25, of Pendennis Place, Cheektowaga.

Another suspect, known only by a nickname, was being sought.

News Staff Reporter Stephen Watson contributed to this report.