Four people are charged with heroin trafficking May 19 following an investigation by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Brian Swett, 28 and Jessica Hale, 25 both of Boothbay Harbor and Jeremy Buttigieg, 25 and Nicole Russell, 26, both of New Milford, N.J., were taken into custody following the execution of a search warrant at an Edgecomb motel and a traffic stop in Boothbay Wednesday May 19.
The Topsham Police Department’s Narcotic Detection K-9 Unit assisted LCSO deputies and DEA agents at both sites.
As a result of the arrests, police seized small amounts of marijuana and Suboxone pills and 170 bags of heroin with an approximate street value of $4200.
Russell’s Honda Accord sedan was also seized as police believe it was used to transport drugs to Maine from New Jersey.
All four individuals are being held at the Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.
Buttigieg is being held on a $50,000 cash bail. Russell is being held on a $30,000 cash bail. Hale is being held on a $20,000 cash bail.
Swett was also charged with Violating Conditions of Release as he was out on bail for a previous arrest for Trafficking in Heroin at the time of this arrest. He is being held without bail pending an appearance in court.
Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Bracket said he was pleased with the efforts of his office, the Maine DEA and the Lincoln County Drug Task Force, finding and developing the information that resulted in the arrests. Brackett said heroin use continues to be an ongoing problem.
“I don’t think it is an indicative of a growing heroin problem but it is indicative of a realistic heroin problem, not just here in Lincoln County but all along the coast,” Bracket said. “I would add, folks who want to sell drugs in Lincoln County, this is what they can expect because we are not going to back off our enforcement effort because it is a priority for us.”
