LEWISTON – A local man was in federal custody Tuesday charged with dealing large quantities of crack and powdered cocaine throughout the Twin Cities.

Donald “Dipper” Couture, 35, of 139 Howe St., was arrested Monday night on a charge of conspiracy to possess and traffic cocaine.

Federal and local investigators say Couture has been dealing cocaine in the Twin Cities at least since 2001. He is accused not of selling grams and ounces, but kilograms of the drug.

If convicted at the federal court level, Couture could face 10 years to life in prison. He will be prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland.

Investigators from several agencies Monday night began conducting surveillance on Couture as he parked his car behind the Promenade Mall on Lisbon Street, police said.

Agents from the High Intensity Trafficking Area were joined by officials of the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, agents from the Central Maine Violent Crime Task Force and police officers from Lewiston’s Selective Enforcement Team.

At about 5:30 p.m. Monday, police said they spotted Couture inside his vehicle with another man engaging in what appeared to be drug activity. By that point, investigators said they already had enough information to bust Couture on the federal trafficking charge.

He was arrested shortly before 6 p.m., questioned and moved into federal custody.

Police said they have been investigating Couture for several years. One federal agent described him Tuesday as a “big player” in the local drug trafficking trade.

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