ORONO (AP) – Four University of Maine freshmen face felony drug trafficking charges and will likely be suspended by the university, according to police.

The arrests followed the seizure of a pound of marijuana from a vehicle in which two of the suspects were riding, said university Police Chief Noel March.

Brennan Farley, 19, and William McHugh, 18, were arrested during the pot seizure Saturday and Ryan Morrison and Justin Zinck, both 18, were taken into custody later.

The four, all of whom were living in two campus dormitories, were taken to the Penobscot County Jail in Bangor on the felony drug trafficking charges, which are punishable by up to five years in prison.

A search of Farley’s room after his arrest led to the seizure of another half-pound of marijuana, according to March, who said the total street value of the pot was about $5,000.

“I think what we have is a presence of marijuana use and some drug experimentation that will take place on our college campus, just as it does at all 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States,” March said.

“While I do not believe that marijuana use and other drug abuse is on an increase, each year we have seen great cooperation between students and university officials toward prevention of drug abuse.”

University police and the MDEA made 21 drug trafficking arrests during the last academic year, said March, who cited “student cooperation” as the catalyst for the most recent investigation.

“If you want to deal drugs, don’t do it at the University of Maine because we’ll send you to jail,” he said.

The four suspects have been released on bail and were scheduled to appear in Bangor District Court on April 13. They will also face disciplinary action at the university, with penalties ranging from a warning to dismissal. The four will likely be suspended, said Robert Dana, dean of student affairs.

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