SOUTH PORTLAND – Lewiston drug agents working a cocaine case in Portland Wednesday diverted their attention to a South Carolina man they say was preparing to set up a methamphetamine lab in Livermore Falls.

Agents who received a tip the suspect would be traveling through South Portland tailed the man until he had everything needed to set up a drug operation, police said.

“We followed him to a Wal-Mart in South Portland,” said Maine Drug Enforcement Agency supervisor Gerry Baril. “For $80, he got all he needed to create a meth cook.”

Baril said the suspect bought several items associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine, including cold medicines and denatured alcohol.

Because the creation of methamphetamine is known to have inherent dangers of explosion, fire or the inhalation of toxic fumes, investigators opted to make the arrest immediately, rather than wait for the suspect to manufacture the drug.

“Once he had all the ingredients, we made the arrest,” Baril said.

Reuben Green Jr., 22, of South Carolina, was charged with attempted trafficking in scheduled W drugs by possession of ingredients.

Investigators said Green had been traveling back and forth between South Carolina and Maine. Baril said Green was known to carry out his drug operation from a home on Baldwin Street in Livermore Falls.

As Green was being booked at the Cumberland County Jail Wednesday, police also learned he was wanted for an unrelated crime in South Carolina.

Baril said Green was supposed to serve nine years in prison in that state on a charge of aggravated assault.

Green was being held without bail Wednesday night at the Portland jail. He was expected to be turned over to police officials in South Carolina later this week.

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com

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