LEWISTON – A local man was arrested on drug charges Thursday after police followed his car from Lewiston to Livermore Falls as part of a five -month investigation into drug dealing between Lewiston and surrounding towns.

Drug agents on Wednesday arrested Phethboulay Khongsouvanhkham, 28, of 928 Lisbon St. in Lewiston, on two counts of trafficking in crack cocaine. Two rifles and ammunition were recovered as well as several grams of crack, police said.

On Tuesday afternoon, a Maine Drug Enforcement agent in Farmington received a tip that a man known as “Noy” was frequenting addresses in Lewiston and Jay and that he was going to meet with at least two people from the Livermore Falls area to furnish them with crack.

Agents searched for the vehicle in Lewiston, Jay and Livermore Falls before spotting the car leaving a parking lot at 928 Lisbon St. in Lewiston, police said. The agents then followed the car to Bridge Street in Livermore Falls.

At the request of the MDEA, the Livermore Falls Police stopped the red 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse and the driver was identified as the suspect drug agents had been searching for.

Khongsouvanhkham was arrested and his car was taken to the Livermore Falls Police Department. Both were searched.

Police they found a small amount of crack inside a folded dollar bill, handwritten drug ledgers and a live rifle round when they searched Khongsouvanhkham. Inside the vehicle, 5.7 grams of crack, a half gram of pre-packaged crack, digital scales and plastic baggies were recovered, police said. They also found $650 in suspected drug proceeds along with a 30-06 rifle with scope and a 22 caliber rifle. Police said ammunition for both weapons was also found inside the car.

The investigation was initiated by Somerset County Sheriff’s Office in June. Police in that county reported that a man from the Lewiston area had been in Jackman driving a red Mitsubishi Eclipse while in possession of crack cocaine and firearms.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office also joined the investigation and Khongsouvanhkham was identified as the suspect. Khongsouvanhkham was arraigned on Thursday in Androscoggin Superior Court and is being held at the Androscoggin County Jail in lieu of posting $5,000 bail.