The Boothbay Harbor Police Department reported that seven men were arrested as a result of an investigation into a cocaine trafficking operation in the Boothbay Region. All of the individuals arrested were employed through a contract agency and worked in a local boat yard. Three of the men were determined to be illegal aliens and are pending deportation.

Search warrants exercised in Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, and Wiscasset on March 29 led to the arrest of Manuel Finch, 42, Edgecomb and Clyde Tarber, 45, Edgecomb. Both men were arrested for possession of schedule drugs (cocaine) and were booked at the Two Bridges Regional Jail and are out on bail. Modesto Morales-Andrade, 53, of Guatemala was seized as an illegal alien and is pending deportation.

Search warrants used on April 25 led to the arrest of two more men. Felix Suarez, 26, Edgecomb was arrested for trafficking schedule drugs (cocaine) and operating without a license. Suarez is being held at Two Bridges Regional Jail without bail due to a violation of conditions of release. Police seized approximately seven grams of cocaine (street value of about $800) at Suarez's residence and over $500 from his person. Kenny Echevarria, 24, Edgecomb, was also arrested on April 25 for possession of schedule drugs (cocaine) and is out on bail.

A routine traffic stop in Boothbay Harbor led to the arrest of Helert Coy-Coy, 30, Guatemala for operating without a license and possession of marijuana, and Hugo Guga, 40, Guatemala on a deportation warrant. Both men are awaiting deportation at Two Bridges Regional Jail.

Officer Jared Mitkus, Boothbay Harbor Police Department, said that the investigation began in late February and was conducted with the help of Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, Waldoboro and Wiscasset Police Departments, the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Immigrations Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Attorney General's Office, and the Lincoln County District Attorney's Office. Mitkus reports that the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.

Anyone with any information regarding this investigation should contact Officer Mitkus at 633-5616 or Detective Sgt. Kenneth Hatch, Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, at 882-7332.