Seven people were arrested Monday on crack and heroin charges following an Augusta drug bust that law enforcement officials describe as one of the most significant in recent memory.

The arrests followed a search at the Senator Inn on Western Avenue and an apartment at 41 Gage St., during which police seized 108 grams of crack cocaine, 66 grams of heroin and half a pound of marijuana, according to Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Department of Public Safety. The drugs have a street value of $25,000, McCausland said.

Police also took possession of two loaded handguns and nearly $14,000 in cash.

Deputy Chief Jared Mills of the Augusta police said the bust was “one of the most significant” in the recent past.

“We believe this was a large supplier within our area,” Mills said.

Interim Kennebec County Sheriff Ryan Reardon said the recovered cash, which he said reflects product that had already been sold, indicates that the suspected dealers began with nearly double the amount of drugs found during the search.

“If we’re going to equate it to hunting, this is a 10-point buck,” Reardon said of the bust. “That is a lot of heroin and a lot of crack.”

Mills said the bust will at least temporarily lessen the availability of heroin on the street, which could mean those addicted to opiates could instead turn their attention to prescription drugs. That could translate into a spike in pharmacy robberies.

“Heroin and prescription medication go hand-in-hand, and when one is in low supply the other becomes more sought after,” Mills said. “Heroin is being abused more than prescription medications at this time because it is less expensive. However, if the heroin supply is reduced we run the risk of medications being stolen from people and pharmacies.”

Mills urged people to be vigilant and report to police any suspicious behavior.

“Our investigators remain diligent in working with the public and identifying dealers as they come into our area,” Mills said.

Five of the seven people arrested Monday are from New York City.

“The arrests highlight the continuing problem of out-of-state drug dealers coming into Maine,” Mills said.

The bust was a joint effort between Augusta police and the Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Mills said a drug detective recently added to the city’s department “played a significant role” in the investigation.

Reardon and Mills said the bust is a product of effective cooperation among the agencies.

“We look forward to future collaborations in our ongoing fight against drugs,” Mills said.

Those arrested in a room at the Senator Inn included Kashawn McLaughlin and Porchia D. Woodard, both 25; Davina Abdusalan, 23; Tymell R. Waters, 30; and Frederick Rogers, 31, all of New York City. All were charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs with a firearm. McLaughlin and Rogers also were each charged with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. McLaughlin also was arrested on a warrant charging him with trafficking in scheduled drugs and on a fugitive warrant out of New York charging him with violating parole.

Donna L. Hall, 45, of Augusta, also was arrested at the Senator Inn and charged with two counts of aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs.

Melissa Clark, 32, of Augusta, was arrested at the Gage Street apartment on a charge of trafficking in scheduled drugs.

The five from New York and Hall are all being held at the Kennebec County jail in lieu of $50,000 bail each. Bail on Clark was set at $5,000.

 

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