NEW HAVEN — Federal officials filed drug and other criminal charges against 63 people today as part of a major drug sweep in the city’s Dwight and Chapel neighborhoods.

Many of those indicted by a grand jury were arrested and arraigned today; others were already incarcerated and some are still being sought, federal officials said.

The sweep stems from a Drug Enforcement Agency investigation that began in 2011 and lasted a year until January 2012 and targeted gang activities, drug trafficking and violence in those New Haven neighborhoods.

While most of the suspects are from New Haven, others are from Hamden, federal officials said.

Many of the suspects were arraigned today at U.S. District Court in New Haven.

The 63 face varying charges, including alleged trafficking of cocaine, crack and narcotics.

Charges against some or all of the defendants include: conspiracy to distribute and possess narcotics with intent to sell; intent to distribute narcotics; use of a telephone to facilitate a narcotics trafficking felon; unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a narcotics trafficking crime; aiding and abetting; and criminal forfeiture.

Federal officials said that based on the charges filed, if convicted, the defendants could face a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.

“We wouldn’t have all of this drug activity of we had more community centers in the neighborhood and if churches had money to open their doors at night to (youth),” said Carroll Brown, president of the West Haven Black Coalition and community activist.

She stressed that the responsibility lies not only with keeping kids off of the streets by keeping doors to community centers open, but also with parents and legislators. Brown looked to elected officials when she said, “they aren’t afraid to walk through the neighborhoods when it’s time to get a vote, but they never come back to see what these people have to enhance their lives in their communities.”

“Everyone talks about how bad these kids are,” she added. “Well, what are you going to do to make a change?”

“This great sweep is just the tip of the iceberg,” said community activist Eli Greer. “It doesn’t really solve the problem. There is a whole generation of kids in this city who haven’t been educated; therefore, they fall prey to certain ways of life in the street.”

“(They) hang around the street corners shooting or dealing drugs,” he said. “They think it’s a game. They don’t value the people who have been killed, paralyzed or maimed.”

Greer added that he is “not convinced” that the new police management will help significantly curb the high crime rate in the city, but he is “prepared to give them a chance.”

“The proof will be in the street,” he said.