WARREN — Maine Drug Enforcement agents late Wednesday announced that seven people have been charged with trafficking in Suboxone into Maine State Prison in Warren.

The charges stem from an investigation into the seven acquiring and smuggling the drug, which is used to treat opiate addiction, into the prison for resale to inmates, according to the MDEA.

A prescription medication containing Buprenorphine and Naloxone that is taking by placing a medicated strip under the tongue, the MDEA said that Suboxone is often sold and traded by those who abuse narcotics.

Beginning in September 2014, MDEA agents from the Mid-Coast District Task Force and prison investigators conducted an investigation of a complex Suboxone trafficking organization within the prison. They investigators discovered that Suboxone strips were being shipped via the U.S. Postal Service, from Connecticut, to a number of addresses in Midcoast and Central Maine.

The investigation further revealed that Suboxone strips were being shipped through the U.S. mail concealed in greeting cards. The strips would then be transferred to individuals who smuggled them into the state prison in Warren during prisoner visitations.

"During the investigation, agents and U.S. Postal Inspectors intercepted two shipments of Suboxone strips that were mailed to addresses in the Midcoast from Connecticut. A total of 80 Suboxone strips were seized from these interceptions," said the MDEA in a press release.

According to the MDEA, Douglas Mazzotta of Middletown, Conn., mailed Suboxone strips to Maine at the direction of Paul Milardo, who is currently serving a sentence in Maine State Prison for a robbery conviction.

Milardo then allegedly arranged with Edward Robinson, Travis Work and Matthew Binnette to have the Suboxone strips smuggled into the prison.

"Once inside the prison, Milardo had several people dealing the Suboxone strips. Prisoners/customers would direct people from outside the prison to transfer money orders to personal accounts or prisoner accounts within the prison for payments to Milardo. Prison commissary items were also used to trade for Suboxone," said the MDEA in the release.

The Suboxone strips were being purchased by Milardo in Connecticut for $5 each, and then resold in the prison for around $400 each, according to the MDEA.

Charged in the smuggling and trafficking scheme were Douglas Mazzotta, 71, of Middletown, Conn., trafficking in schedule W drugs (Suboxone) and illegal importation of schedule W drugs (Suboxone); Paul Milardo, 41, of Cushing and incarcerated at Maine State Prison in Warren, two counts of aggravated trafficking in schedule W drugs (Suboxone); Christy Nason, 38, of Warren, trafficking in schedule W drugs (Suboxone); Edward Robinson, 33, of Randolph, trafficking in schedule W drugs (Suboxone); Lisa Work, 27, of Topsham, conspiracy to traffic schedule W drugs (Suboxone); Travis Work, 30, of Topsham, trafficking in schedule W drugs (Suboxone); and Matthew Binette, 30, of Biddeford and incarcerated at Maine State Prison in Warren, trafficking in schedule W drugs (Suboxone).

Mazotta was arrested Jan. 13 by an FBI task force in Middletown, Conn., on the Maine warrants. He is currently being held at the Hartford House of Corrections in Hartford, Conn. According to the MDEA, Mazotta has waived extradition and is expected to be brought to Maine this week.

Milardo and Binnette remain at the prison, while Nason and Robinson are being held at Knox County Jail in Rockland. Lisa Work was issued a summons and released and Travis Work is in custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons on an unrelated charge.

The MDEA and Prison investigators were assisted by U.S. Postal Inspectors, the Knox County Sheriff's Office, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Maine State Police and the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office.

To report illegal drug activity, call the MDEA tip-line at 1-800-452-6457.