LEWISTON — Police and drug agents arrested a local man Monday night after a traffic stop and finding fentanyl and a large amount of crack cocaine.
Haji M. Haji Lewiston Police Department photo
Haji M. Haji, 22, was booked at Androscoggin County Jail where he remained as of late Tuesday afternoon in lieu of $5,000 cash bail.
Prosecutors charged him with two counts of aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, each a Class A felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. He also was charged with unlawful possession of a scheduled drug, a Class B felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and possession of fentanyl powder, a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Haji appeared before an 8th District Court judge by videoconference Tuesday, but didn’t enter pleas to the charges. A grand jury must hand up indictments on felony charges for those cases to proceed to trial.
A judge appointed a lawyer to defend him because he is indigent.
Residents had complained about possible drug trafficking on North Temple Street, according to Lt. David St. Pierre. Lewiston Police Department’s Selective Enforcement Team, working with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, conducted surveillance in that area.
About 8:30 pm. Monday, authorities stopped a vehicle at Sabattus Street and East Avenue related to the North Temple Street complaints and suspicious activity, St. Pierre said. Haji was a passenger in the vehicle.
Authorities seized more than 80 grams of crack cocaine and more than 28 grams of fentanyl, plus more than $1,400 in suspected drug money, St. Pierre said.
A judge set conditions of Haji’s release on bail Tuesday to include no use or possession of illegal drugs, subject to random search and testing and a curfew from 7 p.m to 6 a.m.
The case remains under investigation and more related arrests are likely, St. Pierre said.
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