ORLAND — As part of a joint investigation with the Hancock County Sheriff's Office, MDEA arrested three persons Monday, Dec. 21, on heroin charges and seized a substantial amount of the drug, along with processed marijuana, guns and money.

In a yearlong investigation, MDEA investigators, working with Hancock deputies, have been looking into the distribution of heroin in the county. Monday, agents and deputies stopped a vehicle containing Paul Chiumiento and Aaron Carter along Route 1 in Orland. Both Chiumiento and Carter were taken into custody after they were found in possession of heroin, according to  a news release from the Maine Office of Public Safety.

Seized from the home was an estimated 400 grams of heroin with an estimated street value of $100,000. In addition, approximately 22 pounds of processed marijuana (with a street value of $33,000), approximately 750 Oxycodone pills (street value of $20,000), more than a dozen firearms and some $40,000 in cash, was also taken as evidence. Two vehicles belonging to Chiumiento, a 2012 Mercedes SUV and a 2015 GMC pickup truck were also seized.

Charged so far in the investigation are:

• Paul Chiumiento, 32, of Orland, charged with Class "A" Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (heroin). His bail has been set at $200,000 cash.
• Hyacinthe Baril, 35, of Orland charged with Class "A" Aggravated Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (heroin). Her bail has been set at $100,000 cash.
• Aaron Carter, 40, of Sedgwick charged with Class C Conspiracy to Traffic in Schedule W Drugs (heroin). Carter's bail was set at $75,000 cash

Sheriff Scott Kane and MDEA Director Roy McKinney said the arrests disturbs a significant source of the heroin being distributed within western Hancock County, including Blue Hill and the peninsula area.

All three arrested were taken to the Hancock County Jail. Agents and deputies were assisted at the scene by State Police. More arrests are possible.