Good job!! NOW we can only hope that the legal system does it's job and keeps them all in jail for a long time.

Tikitorch, don't hold your breath!!! They'll all get a slap on the hand and go out and continue selling drugs to kids (and others). Happens all the time in our great state! These people have too many "rights".

"Controlled buys"?? I doubt if seasoned drug merchants would sell drugs to strangers. These must have been nerd wannabe's that got talked into finding some drugs for the undercover informant (probably a woman). Just as soon as one still is shut down another still starts up. Prohibition never changes and it is still a black hole for tax dollars. Kids can still find pills much easier than beer. I'm not exactly sure why but the alcohol regulations sure make it very hard for teenagers to get it.

Maybe the BDN should do a story on the "downstream" crimes, such as burglary and theft caused by the addictive drug trade.

We will never see the day when the streets are free of illegal drug trafficking. The only hope that we as parents and concerned citizens have is education. The more honest we are with our young the better our message is received. At first these drugs make you high and it feels good. THEN ADDICTION. Chasing the drug at that first high you felt becomes an every day struggle. If we tell our children the truth then we have the hope that they will be aware of the devastation that follows with addiction. There is help available. Seek it before it's too late.

Agreed freedomfighter! Seventeen arrest all from controlled buys!! Just how much do you think this cost us in the long run? Street smart dealers know better then to sell to DEA and it certainly doesnt take much common sense to know you DO NOT deal with a junkie awaiting charges, lol. I think the one that really stands out is the one thats ALREADY serving his time (42 months) yet was able to get it reduced to six months because another inmate ASKED him to smuggle in methadone!! They HAD an actual dealer, but now he'll be out in six month because he rolled and dropped dime on another inmate...who was no doubt desperate and in withdrawal. LOL...and I'm so sure the DEA told him this would ALL be confidiental and here it is...front page of the BDN. WHY? Because once an informant (cough Rat) has served their purpose they are no longer protected. Anyone associated with big time dealers knows this and would never put themselves or their familiies in jeoprardy. Yet we the people will continue to praise this kind of fruitless work when in reality all it does is keep the taxes high and the funding flowing while the REAL dealers go free. And yeah, you can say they have to start with the small fish, but really, this is all they will ever catch because they refuse or are just too dumb to go deep cover themselves. Articles like this make me LOL>

One of the few profitable industries left in Maine, Drugs.

It's probably a safe bet to say that a large majority of crimes ---home invasions, burglaries, robberies, and other scam ----are for the purpose of raising cash to support a drug habit. It is a sad time in this nation's history when we live in our homes with that threat hanging over our heads. There really is only one solution: terminate the dealers and users. We will be safe in our homes.

Lorilee you are right these people have to many rights. i wished the drug enforcement people would nail the ones operating in my area and maybe it would help solve some of the other crimes here.

News Flash!!! Maine isn’t the only State with drugs The problem is most of you have never left the State and have never seen the problems elsewhere.

Freedomfighter....I disagree... Why do you say female informant.... There are jsut as many men pinched out there that are willing to turn in their own grandmother to geta reduced sentence.. You do have to give the smaller fish a break in order to get the larger ones... That is the only way for L.E. to progress UP the food chain and you would be sprised on how stupid these people are, they would sell to President Bush to make a buck!!

TIki, your post doesn’t even make sense...if anything it proves freedom fighter's point, "you have to give the smaller fish a break in order to get the larger ones"?? They HAD a big fish and he'll be out in six months because a female inmate ASKED him to smuggle in methadone. There was no mention of whether of not it was actually brought in. How is cutting a break to someone who's already been tried and convicted (tons of tax $$ spent there btw) only set up someone in jail on a lesser charge, who isn’t even a dealer!!? It’s absolutely ludicrous to allow our tax money to go round and round like a hamster on a wheel this way...only to keep our ineffective DEA working. So know we'll pay for yet another trial, attorney fees, and the cost to house the inmates, only to have one go free and the other gets an upped sentence...for ASKING for drugs. How is she a "big fish" in this picture? How did this even remotely get them closer to the "big fish"...IT DIDNT!! But it looks good in print...doesn’t it.

Furthermore I think freedom fighter used a woman as an example because any one of us could have done what these undercover officers did. How hard is it to find someone who looks like they're hurting for cash and ask them to cop some dope for you....and usually the payoff their offered is an obscene amount that entices them to go against there better judgment. This is really all they do. DEA doesn’t even get close to the actual person who's selling the drugs and they don’t get busted...the poor middle man does. Maine's DEA needs to spend six months in the heart of NYC or Detroit and learn a thing or two about undercover work. They are too scared, too dumb or just plain too lazy to do the real work it will take to stop the trafficking. The ones listed above barely even qualify as small fish for Gods sake. I for one would like to see my tax dollars spent a little wiser then these lazy bust that do absolutely nothing to slow down the drug trade. But it keeps the salaries at MDEA paid and articles like this make everyone feel warm and cozy believing they're actually making a difference. LOL

Kasdyln and freedomfighter seem to know an AWFUL LOT about controlled buys, drug dealers, etc. Sounds like you are speaking from experience...with an axe to grind with the MDEA. Too bad your comments are full of mistruths...

You guys think Washington County, or the State has a drug problem? Just read these articles from these websites. You guys kill me. Most of you have never left the State. You guys need to a Damn Clue!!!!!!!!

http://www.thebaynet.com/

http://www.stmarystoday.com/

Letting people decide for themselves what SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be put into their own BODIES is the only way to end the insanity of the WOD. Imagine a country where instead of paying for the "set-up", the prosecution (and the defense) and the resulting imprisonment of people who chose to abuse drugs-we just let them?--you know like what we do with alcohol, nicotine, caffeine etc? How can we possibly keep pretending that we will EVER win the war on drugs?

TOO MANY folks dependent on tax dollars raised in the name of ending this "war"...what would all the cops DO if they didn't have to hunt down drug users---OH YEAH! Fight REAL crime....which there wouldn't be much of if drug addicts didn't have to pay the prices for drugs that result from keeping them illegal (you know REAL drug dealers don't want the WOD to end either-what will happen to all their profit?)!! Most of the HARM from drugs comes from keeping them illegal. Yet people like ROCKLANDPHIL actually believe they are safer with drugs illegal.

Whens the last time you heard of someone committing a felony theft to get ALCOHOL and CIGARETTES? Whens the last time you heard of an alcohol DEAL gone bad and people ending up dead? Whens the last time you heard of a kid under 18 getting drunk, arrested and then being DENIED the right to financial aid? whens the last time an alcoholic who beat the crap out of his wife and kid got sentanced to more then a night to dry out?

The irony (and pathetic hipocrisy!) is, alcohol and cigarettes are THE most toxic drugs that exist in this "free" country.

If you are worried about your home being invaded by a junkie, apply for a concealed weapons permit, buy a gun, and protect your home and family. Hurry up before it's illegal to protect yourself and your loved ones.

jake04743, exactly what your gonna get going democrat. Wont have a gun to protect yourself.

PUT THESE DEVILS IN A PIT & SMOKE 'EM to DEATH...That is what they are doing to our youth KILLING THEM!!

Ahh yeah Patsfan, your partially right. I've lived the life (12yrs on the streats of south Boston) and now work in the field. Dont you realize how ineffective this is? Do you realize that more then half of the subjects listed in these types of articles will be referred to my office by the end of the year? Why? Because this is where our drug courts will refer them since they are most likely "users" supporting a habit and not actual dealers responsible for the larger part of our drug trade. Seldom do any have insurance, so again, tax dollars foot the bill. My post are not meant to demonize addicts or to glorify them...only to give an inside look at how ineffective our money is being used.

.....interesting. People are the first to call police lazy when nothing is being done and now something is being done and they are still called lazy. Generally smaller fish are used to bait bigger fish.

And when was the last time we read about a *bigger* fish? It just doesnt seem to happen. The tiny amounts of dangerous narcotics are barely noticible. They might get an ounce of coke here and there or a few hundred pills but that doesnt slow the market even slightly. So aside from a couple of cannabis busts' I really dont see the MDEA gaining much headway. I agree with the other posters, that this is a complete waste of tax dollars; if you REALLY think about a DEA bust from beginning to end and what it REALLY cost VS the final outcome. I believe this is an issue that needs a completely different appoach. The whole WOD needs revamping.

It,s sad but true that yes those peolple should not of been selling drugs ,however those arrested like most in the small world that is maine state are usually the victims of the MDEA and their usual tactics of busting one dealer who then proceeds to get his sentence reduced by setting up small time addicts/dealers which is exactly who their are addicts who fund their addictions like their associates by selling to each other small amounts not importing exporting huge amounts distributing or enticing young children for their first hit .The people of MAINE may rejoice by news of so many arrested sadly these weren,t big time or anybody likely to have any effect measurable in percentage terms on drug supply in Maine .Sadly however for these people but mostly their family they will suffer instead of receiving help for their Disease ,an incurable progressive one usually ending in death,jails or institutions.I am one of the lucky ones however living in England where my Disease is being treating .Today I live without using Drugs and yes it costs money for my cure and yes myself and many others help my from this disease which if I let it will kill me but compared to been arrested and the cost of jail nevermind the untold cost caused to family and all those around me the price is small yet reward great .I have a future ,I will live but mostly my family especially my beautiful daughter will not suffer because of my disease.People think addiction is one afflicting the weak willed little do they bother to find out the changes neurological that happened once physically addicted and other changes this is why Docters ,lawyers fishermen and others go on to commit crimes driven by their addiction .Yes they are responsible for their actions however their is a reason and to expect these people to not live the lives they do is without offeing help and support to them is a losing battle .Today I know i am lucky as well as determined ,determined to stop my disease from killing me and causing pain to others I trully hope the people arrested realise and also get the help neede to beat such a deadly disease I wish them luck