Briefing JOINT STANDINGCOMMITTEEON HEALTH&HUMAN SERVICES AUGUSTA , ME JAN UARY 18, 2022
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Briefing
J O I N T S TA N D I N G C O M M I T T E E O N H E A LT H & H U M A N S E R V I C E S
A U G U S TA , M E
J A N UA R Y 1 8 , 2 0 2 2• 25 M.S.A., chapter 353 – ME Drug
Enforcement Act
Overview • Statewide enforcement program and
strategy to meet the threat to health and
safety posed by drug trafficking
• Maine Opioid Response: 2021
Strategic Action Plan
• Strategy #13: Strengthen law enforcement
efforts to intercept and reduce illicit opioid
supply
• Continue to aggressively prosecute
drug traffickers;
• Continue to assist law enforcement in
coordinating, cooperating, and
collaboratively aligning data, programs,
technology, and resourcesMDEA Mission
• Reduce the distribution, availability and use of illicit
drugs through a collaborative statewide drug
enforcement effort.
• Undermine the ability of drug suppliers to meet,
expand, and profit from drug demand.
• Supports the State’s prevention efforts by making
initiation to illicit drug use more difficult; and
• Contributes to treatment efforts by eroding the
ability of those to sustain their use of illicit
substances.
• Multi-jurisdictional task force approachMDEA’s Strategy
• Address the upper and mid-level drug dealers that
operate below the interest of the Federal law
enforcement authorities that focus on international,
interstate and substantial violators, and the street
level efforts that focus on the small dealers and
those caught in possession
• The investigation of trafficking groups involved in
the distribution of heroin, fentanyl and other opioid
drugs, cocaine, and methamphetamine are
priorities.Organizational Structure
Task Force
Staffing
Division I Division II Evidence
Commander Commander Manager
4 Task Force 4 Task Force
Groups Groups
25 Agents 3 NGB CDP 26 Agents 3 NGB CDP
(2 Stipend Only) Analysts (3 Stipend Only) Analysts
Plus 3 Agents
Plus 5 Agents
Part-time & 3
Part-time
Federal AgentsChallenges Task Force Staffing ◦ Training ◦ Vacancies Technology ◦ Acquiring ◦ Training Trafficking Trends ◦ Drug Trafficking Organizations ◦ Fentanyl / Dangerous Drugs COVID-19
MDEA Activity - Investigative Assists /
Drug Complaint Incidents 2019-2021
1000
934
900
834 832
800 775
732
700
600 578
2019
500
2020
400 2021
300
200
100
0
Assists Drug ComplaintsDrug Offense Investigations by MDEA,
2019 - 2021
350
296
300
248
250
200
2019
164
151 2020
150 141
134 2021
121
104 103 99
100 90
66
50
0
Heroin Cocaine Fentanyl MethGrams or Pharmaceutical Dosage Units of
Drugs Seized by MDEA, 2019 - 2021
30000 28523
25000
20000
14515
15000
10491
10000 8561
6991
6260
5000 4084 4128
3524
2369 2117 2718 2472
2117
527
0
Heroin Fentanyl Methamphetamine Cocaine & Cocaine Base Pharmaceutical Dosage
UnitsMDEA Arrests by Substance, 2019 - 2021
200
184
180
160
140
120 110
107
98 100 97 97 2019
100
2020
79
80 70 72 2021
60
41 42
40
20
0
Heroin Fentanyl & Other Opioids Cocaine MethIn 2021, the MDEA documented 2,475 incidents including 472 MDEA drug offense
investigations and 275 arrests. 264 of the arrests were for drug offenses as follows:
MDEA Drug Arrests by Substance, 2021
41
79
Heroin
Fentanyl and Other Opioids
Methamphetamine
Cocaine & Cocaine Base
100
42
Heroin, fentanyl and all other opiate drugs represent 54% of all drug offenses, cocaine
and cocaine base at 30%, and methamphetamine at 16%.Response PRESQUE ISLE - In May of 2021, a significant source of methamphetamine in Aroostook County was disrupted. MDEA agents assigned to the Aroostook Task Force gathered evidence of the group’s trafficking efforts through interviews, surveillance and undercover methamphetamine purchases. A search warrant was executed at a residence where in excess of four (4) pounds of crystal methamphetamine was seized. SKOWHEGAN - Agents in the Augusta-based task force office identified a group believed to be responsible for the distribution of significant quantities of fentanyl in Skowhegan and throughout Somerset County. The investigation, identified an individual who was making trips out of state and returning with fentanyl in re-sale quantities. In March of 2021, this information led to a vehicle stop on I-95 in the Augusta area resulting in the search of the vehicle and suspect’s home resulting in the seizure of nearly (2) pounds of fentanyl and (2) firearms.
Response ELLSWORTH - In early 2021, MDEA agents in Ellsworth opened an investigation into the sale of methamphetamine, fentanyl and crack cocaine by individuals in the Ellsworth area. The investigation, which included the undercover purchase of all these drugs, resulted in the subsequent arrest of three men and a woman from Hancock County. Utilizing information learned from that operation, agents were able to infiltrate a Detroit, Michigan-based trafficking group operating out of the Bangor area. HERMON - agents were able to infiltrate a Detroit, Michigan-based trafficking group operating in the Bangor area. After completing a couple of undercover purchases of ounce quantities of methamphetamine from the group, agents executed a search warrant at a Hermon residence where nearly 4 pounds of suspected fentanyl, 0.75-pound of methamphetamine, 3 ounces of crack cocaine, an AK-47 and a semi-automatic handgun were recovered.
Questions R O Y E . M C K I N N E Y, D I R E C T O R 1 6 6 S TAT E H O U S E S TAT I O N A U G U S TA , M E 0 4 3 3 3 - 0 1 6 6 (207) 626-3850 R O Y. E . M C K I N N E Y @ M A I N E . G O V
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