The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, Belfast Police Department and the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office said June 18 they investigated and arrested individuals for drug trafficking in Belfast.  

 Larry Metcalf, 80, of Swanville was arrested for for Aggravated Trafficking Schedule “W” Drugs.

Eduin Chala-Ramirez, 21, of Boston, Massachusetts, was arrested for Aggravated Trafficking Schedule “W” Drugs.

For the past several months, the MDEA's Mid-Coast District Task Force, Belfast Police Department and Waldo County Sheriff’s Office have been receiving information that Metcalf was suspected of giving out-of-state drug traffickers rides to local residences to sell illegal drugs, according to a June 18 news release.

"On Wednesday June 17, Agents received credible information that the Metcalf was meeting someone at the bus station in Belfast," the Maine Dept. of Public Safety said, in the release. "Agents conducted surveillance at the bus station where they observed Metcalf arrive at the station. A short time later a bus traveling from Massachusetts arrived and a male exited the bus and got into Metcalf’s vehicle.  Agents working with the Belfast Police Department and the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office conducted a stop on Metcalf’s vehicle. Following a positive alert from a drug certified K-9, Agents and officers conducted a search of the vehicle and its occupants."

As a result of the search, agents seized 55 grams of Fentanyl and 250 grams of cocaine from Chala-Ramirez, the release said.

The estimated street value of the drugs is approximately $29,100.  

Chala-Ramirez was transported to the Waldo County Jail awaiting his initial appearance in court.  Bail was set at $25,000.00 cash.  

Metcalf was issued a summons and will appear in Waldo County Superior Court August 5.

More arrests are anticipated in this case, the release said.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

"The MDEA stands committed to working with all federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners in order to continue to identify and disrupt drug trafficking organizations who are attempting to distribute illicit drugs like fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in the State of Maine," the release said. "If you or someone you know suffers from substance, use disorder, please call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 for a list of resources available in your area.

"If you have information about this investigation or the illegal sale of drugs in your community, you are urged to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement office closest to you or by texting MDEA to TIP411 (847411) or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 1-800-452-6457."