Maine law enforcement said they seized more than a pound of Fentanyl over four days involving two incidents of drug smuggling and trafficking in Maine from other states. The street value of the drugs is over $100,000, said officials.

MDEA Commander Darrell Crandall described the first incident:

On May 29, around 7:20 p.m., Bangor Police responded to a report of a man slumped behind the wheel of a vehicle in the parking lot of a closed business on Hammond Street.

Officers identified the operator and only occupant of the vehicle as 50-year-old Victor Arroyo from Tampa, FL and New Bedford, MA. The gold Kia SUV was last registered to Arroyo, but because the registration had long expired he was taken into custody for the misdemeanor traffic violation.

Officers found $8,000 cash on Arroyo and 150 grams of suspected Fentanyl in the vehicle, so a MDEA agent on the scene impounded it and applied for a search warrant to more thoroughly search for additional evidence concealed inside, said the MDEA Commander.

When MDEA agents served the warrant, an additional 150 grams of Fentanyl was found and seized, bringing the total to 300 grams. 

Arroyo, who has a 2007 conviction in Florida for cocaine distribution, is charged with aggravated trafficking in Fentanyl. A judge set Arroyo’s bail at $40,000 and he remains at the Penobscot County Jail.

Another arrest and drug seizure happened on June 3rd in Steuben. Crandall detailed the events:

On June 3, MDEA and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office gathered information that prompted surveillance of a location on U.S. Route 1 in Steuben.

Shortly after 8:00 p.m., 65-year-old Wayne Smeal of Steuben, arrived in the area, parked his vehicle at a business and walked into a nearby wooded area.

When Smeal returned to his vehicle MDEA agents approached him, found him to be in possession of approximately 10 grams of Fentanyl and also found a loaded .357 revolver in his pocket, Crandall said.

Agents then searched the wooded area where Smeal had been and recovered a plastic container with another 218 grams of Fentanyl inside.

MDEA Agents subsequently obtained a search warrant for Smeal’s home on Smeal Lane in Steuben, seizing $6,560 in cash that is alleged to be proceeds from drug sales.

Smeal was arrested, charged with aggravated trafficking in Fentanyl and taken to the Washington County Jail. His bail is set at $50,000.

Authorities said this incident is part of an ongoing investigation that previously resulted in the arrest of Smeal’s son, 32-year-old William Smeal. Washington County Sheriff's Deputies and State Troopers worked with MDEA agents on the searches and arrest.

Contact the MDEA to report drug crimes by calling Tip Line at 800-452-6457. You can remain anonymous by using MDEA’s Tip411 application for iPhone and Android - text “MDEA,” followed by the information to 847411.

More From