A joint operation by the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday at two locations in Roque Bluffs and Centerville led to the arrests on drug-related charges of 11 individuals from the local area, New York state, and the Dominican Republic, Maine’s statewide drug task force said in a statement.
The Maine State Police Tactical Team and various federal law enforcement agencies assisted with the raids at 75 Duck Cove Road in Roque Bluffs and 43 Mitten Mountain Road in Centerville.
At the first location, tactical units reportedly found one suspect hiding in a dryer. Two other suspects were arrested in traffic stops proximate to the targeted locations, where law enforcement officials were executing two search warrants.
Altogether, officers and agents seized 150 grams of fentanyl, 27.6 grams os suspected cocaine Base, or crack, and 15 grams of methamphetamine at an estimated street value of $15,000.
Those arrested at or adjacent to the locations included:
–Kristopher Preston (38) of Roque Bluffs -Class B – Unlawful Trafficking Schedule W Drug (Cocaine Base);
–Jacob Locke (27) of Machias – Class B – Unlawful Trafficking in Schedule W Drug (Cocaine Base). Locke was currently released on pre-conviction bail for burglary and theft of services;
–Nicholas Merchant (35) of Roque Bluffs – Class B – Unlawful Trafficking in
Methamphetamine and Fentanyl and Class E Trafficking Imitation Drugs;
–Darius Montgomery (29) of South Ozone Park (Queens), New York – Class B Unlawful Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Fentanyl and Cocaine Base;
–Andrew White (35) of New York, New York – Class B – Unlawful Trafficking in
Methamphetamine, Fentanyl and Cocaine Base;
–Samantha Jo Moore (22) of Machiasport – Unrelated Warrant – Failure to Appear for Aggravated Trafficking in Scheduled Drugs;
–Bree Landry (27) of Bangor –Unrelated Warrant – Failure to Appear for OUI Drugs(Washington County), Warrant – FTA for 2 counts of Class D Unlawful Possession of Schedule Drugs and Warrant for Class D Theft, Class E OAS and Violation of Conditions of Release;
–Willie Merchant (36) of Centerville – Class B Unlawful Trafficking of Fentanyl (it was Merchant who was found in the dryer);
–Nestor Andres Mejia Mateo (25) of Dominican Republic – Class A Aggravated Trafficking of Fentanyl;
–Samantha Roberts – Unrelated Warrant for FTA Class D Forgery; and
–Nakia Albee (25) of Jonesport for Failure to Appear for Theft, Unlawful Possession of Scheduled Drugs and Violation of Conditions of Release, and Class B Unlawful Trafficking in Cocaine Base
(Photos courtesy of Washington County Sheriff’s Office)
