Maine DEA Arrests 3 Following Drug Investigation

According to a press release from the Maine Department of Public Safety's Shannon Moss, three people have been arrested following a drug investigation.

A weeklong drug investigation at a Baileyville motel ended with three arrests and the seizure of a large amount of methamphetamine.

On Monday, March 2, agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency wrapped up an investigation into suspected drug trafficking at a motel in Baileyville. The case was handled by the MDEA’s Down East Task Force, which works in Hancock and Washington counties.

Agents had been watching activity at one motel room and determined it matched patterns consistent with drug trafficking. Based on what they learned, they obtained a search warrant for the room.

Around 8:30 Monday morning, agents saw 36-year-old Katherine Smith of Baileyville leave the motel room and briefly meet with a vehicle nearby. She was detained outside the motel and later charged with Class B unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs. Smith was taken to the Washington County Jail.

The vehicle she met with was stopped shortly afterward by Baileyville police. The driver, 37-year-old Bruce Bailey of Baileyville, was charged with unlawful possession of cocaine base.

With help from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Baileyville Police, and U.S. Border Patrol, agents secured the motel room and carried out the search warrant. Inside, they seized about 64 grams of methamphetamine, along with other evidence tied to drug trafficking.

Later in the day, at about 3:42 PM, U.S. Border Patrol stopped another vehicle in Baileyville believed to be connected to the motel activity. The driver, 40-year-old Dim Akopian of New Jersey, was arrested and charged with Class B unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs. He was also taken to the Washington County Jail.

Investigators then expanded the case. Based on evidence from the motel, they obtained a second search warrant for Smith’s apartment on Monroe Street in Calais. With assistance from the Maine State Police Tactical Team, agents searched the apartment around 4 p.m. and found more evidence related to drug trafficking.

Booking photos for those arrested are available through the Washington County Jail.

Agencies assisting in the investigation included the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Baileyville Police, Maine State Police Tactical Team, U.S. Border Patrol, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Homeland Security Investigations.

The MDEA says it continues to work with local, state, and federal partners to identify and disrupt drug trafficking operations across Maine.