BANGOR, Maine — Three out-of-state men are facing felony drug trafficking charges after Maine drug agents say a weeklong investigation uncovered an alleged crack cocaine operation centered in downtown Bangor.
The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and Bangor Police Department announced the arrests of Diany Garcia, 28, and Arismendi Acosta, 27, both of Paterson, New Jersey, and Jeremy Rodriguez, 30, of the Bronx, New York.
Garcia was charged with Class B trafficking in Schedule W drugs, specifically cocaine base. Acosta and Rodriguez were each charged with Class A aggravated trafficking in Schedule W drugs.
According to MDEA, agents with the agency’s North Central District Task Force spent the past week investigating suspected drug trafficking activity in downtown Bangor.
During the investigation, agents allegedly watched the three men hand pieces of paper to people in a downtown park while also conducting what investigators believed were drug transactions.
Authorities later determined that the pieces of paper contained a telephone number allegedly being used to arrange drug sales, according to MDEA.
Investigators said at least one non-fatal overdose in the area was directly linked to the group.
An undercover MDEA agent subsequently used the telephone number to arrange a controlled purchase of crack cocaine from Garcia, authorities said. Garcia was taken into custody shortly after the transaction.
Investigators also determined that the three men were allegedly operating out of a Bangor-area hotel and obtained a search warrant for their room.
During the search, agents seized approximately 18 grams gross weight of crack cocaine, three grams gross weight of cocaine hydrochloride and more than $1,000 in suspected drug proceeds, according to MDEA.
Acosta and Rodriguez were detained outside the hotel room shortly before agents executed the search warrant and were later arrested.
MDEA said Acosta and Rodriguez have previous drug convictions, which elevated their current charges to aggravated trafficking.
Additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
The Bangor Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assisted MDEA during the investigation.
“The MDEA stands committed to working with all federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners in order to continue to identify and disrupt drug trafficking organizations who are attempting to distribute illicit drugs in the State of Maine,” the agency said.
Anyone with information about the investigation or illegal drug activity in their community can contact MDEA by texting MDEA to TIP411 (847411) or calling the agency’s tip line at 1-800-452-6457.
People seeking help for substance use disorder can call 211 or text their ZIP code to 898–211 for information about available resources.
All three defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
