MANCHESTER — A joint drug interdiction operation by Manchester Police and New Hampshire State Police resulted in the arrest of a city man Thursday night in the parking lot of the 7-11 store on Valley Street.

Officers observed two suspicious vehicles in the lot and, after seeing a man leave one vehicle and get into the other, they approached to investigate further.

When the man got out of the vehicle at the officer’s request, they saw him drop an item on the ground which was found to be cocaine, according to police.

As the officers sought to detain the man, he struggled, but was subdued. During a search, officers reported finding an additional three bags of suspected cocaine and seven oxycodone pills. A loaded pistol was recovered from the glove box of his vehicle.

Police charged Craig Steele, 30, of 1639 Paule Ave., with possession of a narcotic with intent to distribute and possession of a narcotic.

The drug interdiction program is funded through the Drug Enforcement Administration’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.