LEWISTON — Two women and a man from New York were arrested Thursday as police and drug agents investigated reports of trafficking on West Bates Street.
The trio remained jailed on Friday, charged with dealing crack cocaine and oxycodone in the Lewiston area.
One of the suspects had recently been paroled on a conviction of manslaughter in New York.
Delilia Perez, 24, of the Bronx, Dominique Liggins, 20, of Utica and Curtis Garner, 32, of New York City were arrested late Thursday afternoon off West Bates Street. Each was charged with two counts of trafficking in illegal drugs.
According to a press release from the Department of Public Safety, Maine Drug Enforcement agents from the Lewiston Task Force office received information over the past week that the three would be traveling to Lewiston from New York City to sell crack cocaine and prescription pills. Police say the three appeared to be selling drugs out of their car after making a number of phone calls.
Agents from the MDEA coordinated with Lewiston police as the investigation got under way.
According to the press release, agents found 104.6 grams of crack cocaine with a street value of $10,000; 422 oxycodone pills with a street value of $8,500; 20 oxymorphone pills with a street value of $800; and $3,500 in cash.
Agents also confiscated nine cell phones, believed to have been used by the suspects as they coordinated their drug sales.
The three were being held at the Androscoggin County Jail on Friday each in lieu of $25,000 bail. They are scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Garner was on parole for a first-degree manslaughter conviction in New York.
According to the MDEA, Thursday’s arrests are not the end of the operation.
Agents were tipped to the trio of suspected drug dealers when they got information left on the MDEA hot line, Supervisor Matt Cashman said.
He said more arrests are likely as the agency targets men and women who move drugs into the Lewiston area.
“We’ll be working with the local police departments to combat this kind of activity,” Cashman said.
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- Curtis Garner, 32, of New York City
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- This stash of drugs, money and electronics was taken in a Maine Drug Enforcement Agency raid on Bates Street in Lewiston on Friday.
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- Dominique Liggins, 20, of Utica, N.Y.
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- Delilia Perez, 24, Bronx, N.Y.
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