A Bradford man, as well as a man from Massachusetts, face charges after being caught with a significant amount of fentanyl.

The arrests were the result of a traffic stop in Augusta, when their vehicle showed some sort of defect. Maine State Police Trooper Tyler Harrington pulled the vehicle over on I-95 in Augusta, near mile marker 109 northbound, at approximately 11:30 Monday night. Circumstances of the traffic stop caused Trooper Harrington to call in a narcotics K9 to assist with the investigation.

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A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 1.5 Kilos (3.3 pounds) of fentanyl and $3,200 in cash. The vehicle's occupants were placed under arrest:

  • Kristopher Churchill, 38 of Bradford, Maine charged with class A trafficking in fentanyl
  • Erick Mejia, 26 of Lawrence, Massachusetts charged with class A trafficking in fentanyl.

Bail was set at $75,000 each.

It's been a busy month for Maine Drug Enforcement Agents. Earlier this month, 3 people were arrested for allegedly trafficking in cocaine and fentanyl in Milo. And, in a separate investigation, two people were arrested on similar charges for allegedly trafficking drugs in the greater Portland area.

According to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency's Facebook page, most of these suspects are only interested in the selling of illegal substances for their own financial gain. Many come from out of state to prey on Maine residents who are dealing with substance use disorder, with no regard for the death and destruction their actions cause. They say drug agents rarely see the high-dollar dealers using their own product.

Anyone with information about this investigation or the illicit sale of drugs in Maine is urged to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency office closest to them, or by testing MDEA to TIP411 (847411).

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