By Jen Lynds
Staff Writer
SHERMAN — Two Aroostook County men were arrested Sunday on Interstate 95 after police investigated a tip to the Aroostook County Crime Stoppers about alleged heroin trafficking.
Information left anonymously on the toll-free tip line indicated Scott Rand, 50, of Sherman Mills and Jordan Anderson, 26, of Patten were planning to buy heroin out of state and then travel back to sell it in southern Aroostook County, Sheriff Darrell Crandall said in a written statement Monday.
Sheriff’s deputies and agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency followed the two men in their 2007 Chevy Impala back into Aroostook County Sunday as they returned via I-95, Crandall reported.
Uniformed deputies then stopped the vehicle and a trained dog from U.S. Customs and Border Protection alerted them to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found heroin hidden under the spare tire in the trunk and 60 tablets of Valium were found on both occupants of the vehicle, according to Crandall.
Both men were arrested and charged with aggravated trafficking in heroin.
The sheriff said the retail street value of the more than 23 grams of heroin seized was estimated at more than $7,000. A retail packet of heroin, usually weighing about one-tenth of a gram, sells for an average of $30 in Aroostook County, he said.
Rand and Anderson made initial court appearances by video from the county jail Monday morning when bail was set at $10,000 cash or $50,000 surety. If convicted of the Class A offense, both men face a minimum four-year prison term.
“The heroin problem is increasing throughout Maine and rural counties like Aroostook are not exempt,” Crandall said. “The sheriff’s office will continue to work closely with MDEA and our other law enforcement partners to develop information, support investigations and do our part to hold accountable those who try to bring this dangerous poison into The County.”
Anyone with information on drug smuggling or trafficking in Aroostook County may call Aroostook County Crimestoppers at 1-800-638-8477.
