UPDATE: Two suspects arrested in Knox County drug bust following tip, traffic stop appear in court
UPDATE (June 3): The two suspects who were arrested for unlawful drug trafficking following a traffic stop in Thomaston May 27 made their initial appearances in Knox County Court before Judge John Martin.
Mariah Grover, 22, who is known to reside in both Texas and Maine, has been charged with unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs (cocaine). She was held in the Knox County Jail on $50,000 cash bail before her court appearance on May 29 where her bail was lowered to $5,000 cash.
Jefferson Jazzir Arias, 27, who is known to reside in both Texas and California, has been charged with aggravated trafficking in a schedule W drug (cocaine). Arias also has two fugitive from justice extraditable warrants, one in California reportedly for robbery, and the other in Texas for theft. He was held in the Knox County Jail on $75,000 cash bail before his court appearance on May 29 where his bail was lowered to $15,000 cash.
The police affidavit filed in Knox County Court, provides additional details about the apprehension of Grover and Arias. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) were initially notified of a suspicious vehicle at the Vinalhaven ferry terminal. It was reported to police that the man in the vehicle had just come from a residence of a known drug dealer on the island who was under recent investigation by the KCSO. Grover was seen entering vehicle car for the ride over to Rockland.
Police then followed the vehicle from Rockland and conducted a traffic stop in the Thomaston. In the vehicle, police identified a plunger used for a crack pipe, 66 grams of suspected cocaine, a glass cylinder used for cooking cocaine, a .45 caliber handgun and corresponding bullets stored in a Doritos bag, three digital scales, and $9,500.00 in suspected drug proceeds, according to the court affidavit.
Both Grover and Arias are scheduled to appear again in Knox County Court on July 16 for dispositional conferences.
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THOMASTON — Two individuals were arrested were arrested for unlawful drug trafficking following a traffic stop May 27, according to a press release from Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Commander Lowell Woodman.
Mariah Grover, 22, who is reportedly known to reside in both Texas and Maine, has been charged with unlawful trafficking in schedule W drugs.
Jefferson Jazzir Arias, 27, who is known to reside in both Texas and California, has been charged with aggravated trafficking in a schedule W drug. Arias was also subject to two extraditable warrants: one warrant from California is reportedly for robbery, while the other, out of Texas, is for theft.
Agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Mid-coast Task Force office, along with members of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, received information about suspicious activity and suspected drug trafficking on the island of Vinalhaven. This information also concerned drug trafficking on the ferry from Vinalhaven to Rockland.
As a result of this investigation, Knox County Sheriff’s Department personnel conducted a traffic stop in the Town of Thomaston. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 66 grams of suspected Cocaine, a .45 caliber handgun, $9,500.00 in suspected drug proceeds, as well as other items indicative of drug trafficking.
Mariah Grover was transported to the Knox County Jail and charged with trafficking in scheduled W drugs (cocaine). Grover is being held on $50,000 cash bail and is expected to make an initial appearance in court on Friday, May 29, 2026.
Jefferson Jazzir Arias was also transported to the Knox County Jail and charged with aggravated trafficking in scheduled W drugs (cocaine). Arias is being held on $75,000 cash bail and is expected to make an initial appearance in court on Friday, May 29, 2026.
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 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.
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.
