A Waldoboro man is in custody following an early morning raid on his Friendship Rd. residence by state and local police June 12.
According to a statement from Waldoboro Police Chief Bill Labombarde, Geoffrey Merritt, 48, was arrested at the residence and transported to Two Bridges Regional jail.
Merritt is charged with Aggravated Unlawful Trafficking of Marijuana (Class C), Unlawful Trafficking of Heroin (Class B), Unlawful Possession of Hydrocodone (Class C) and Cultivation of Marijuana (Class C).
According to Labombarde, Waldoboro Police, State Police, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office executed the warrant as the result of a yearlong investigation. The investigation was primarily focused on Merritt’s allegedly cultivating and selling marijuana from his residence.
During the search, officers seized approximately $1000 in cash, 138 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, approximately five pounds of processed marijuana, a half ounce of psilocybin mushrooms, 31 Hydrocodone pills, 10 mg, and approximately 2.3 grams of heroin.
According to Special Agent Supervisor James Pease from MDEA, the processed marijuana seized during the warrant holds a street value of approximately $2000 a pound making it’s estimated worth approximately $10,000. The psilocybin mushrooms have a street value of approximately $150. In the Midcoast area a bag of heroin sells for approximately $25 per bag.
The 2.3 grams of heroin can produce up to 150 bags, making the street value of the heroin seized approximately $3750. The 10-mg Hydrocodone pills hold a street value of $10 per pill making the total street value of the 31 Hydrocodone pills $310.
It is estimated that each of the marijuana plants once fully matured could produce around half pound of consumable marijuana plant during its life span. It is estimated that the street value of the marijuana that the plants could produce holds a street value of approximately $138,000. The total street values of the drugs seized in the raid is approximately $153,000, according to law enforcement.
Police and agents from MDEA believe these drugs were being distributed throughout the Lincoln and Knox County area. The investigation was successful as a direct result of the ongoing commitment of the Waldoboro PD and the Lincoln SO to work in conjunction with MDEA.
Chief Labombarde urges anyone with information regarding the manufacture, sale or distribution of illegal drugs in their community to contact their local police or Sheriffs Department or Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
