AUBURN – Police arrested two men and a woman on drug charges Thursday afternoon during a coordinated traffic stop on Route 4.

Police said the trio were returning from Rhode Island where they had purchased cocaine and marijuana to be distributed in and around Androscoggin County.

Arrested were Cynthia Padilla, 37, of 10 Jewel St., Jay, Eric Cheverez, 28, of 21 Wheeler St., Livermore Falls, and Robert Duncan, 35, of 182 Sanborn Hill Road, Chesterville. Each was charged with aggravated drug trafficking and taken to the Androscoggin County Jail.

Drug agents searched the car, driven by Padilla, and said they found 11 ounces of cocaine and a pound of marijuana.

Maine State Police began following the Chevrolet occupied by the suspects as they traveled north on the turnpike, toward Lewiston and Auburn, Thursday afternoon.

Police from that department had been told to be on the lookout for the group based on Maine Drug Enforcement Agency information indicating the three were returning from lower New England where they bought drugs.

“We suspected they were making a run to Rhode Island,” said MDEA Supervisor Gerry Baril.

When the car carrying the suspects left the highway and began traveling north on Route 4, State Police were joined by MDEA agents in unmarked cars tailing the vehicle.

At about 5:30 p.m., State Police began slowing traffic on Route 4, beyond Lake Auburn. They stopped the car near the Turner town line and drug agents swarmed the scene.

The suspects were arrested and Livermore Falls police were sent to search Cheverez’s apartment on Wheeler Street in that town. At the same time, State Police officers went to Duncan’s home in Chesterville to conduct a similar search.

Baril said the searches of the two homes uncovered further evidence of drug dealing. He said cocaine residue was found along with straws used to snort the drug, digital scales and plastic baggies.

The suspects remained jailed Thursday night and were expected to make first court appearances on Friday.