Man has a previous federal conviction for cocaine distribution in 2007 and was out on bail for another unrelated charge
A man in Auburn, Maine is facing charges after police say he imported 14 kilos of fentanyl worth millions of dollars to a local restaurant.
Jeremy Mercier, 41, was charged with aggravated illegal importation of drugs, aggravated drug trafficking, and bail violation. He is being held without bail in the Androscoggin County Jail, police said.
On Friday, employees of Mac’s Grill in Auburn opened a large wooden crate that arrived from Arizona, believing it contained a shipment of mugs they had ordered, the Auburn Police Department said in a press release. Inside, they found a tote bag containing a “significant amount of illegal drugs” with Mercier’s name listed as a contact, police said.
Mac’s Grill did not immediately return Insider’s request for comment on Sunday.
Police confiscated the drugs from the restaurant and took them to the police department where they tested the material and confirmed that it was fentanyl, according to the press release.
About an hour later, police arrested Mercier when he arrived at the restaurant asking about the package.
Police seized 14 kilos of fentanyl in total, which they said has a street value of more than $3 million.
Mercier has a previous federal conviction for cocaine distribution in 2007 and was out on bail for another unrelated charge, police said.
Auburn Deputy Police Chief Tim Cougle said the department is still investigating the case and expects “federal partners” to join the investigation.
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Tags: Arrests Drug Trafficking Fentanyl Interdiction Opioid Crisis
