MARS HILL, Maine — A 44-year-old Mars Hill woman has been arrested on several drug charges after police found bath salts and other drugs during a search of her home, according to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Leda Giggey of Benjamin Street was taken into custody on Friday following a lengthy investigation by the MDEA in Aroostook County, Steve McCausland, spokesman for the state department of public safety, said in a press release Monday.
Drug agents along with deputies from the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office searched Giggey’s home Friday and seized a small amount of bath salts, numerous prescription pills, including oxycodone, about $1,500 in suspected drug proceeds, and other evidence of drug trafficking, McCausland reported. The investigation included undercover purchases of bath salts from the house, he said.
Giggey was charged with trafficking in schedule W drugs and unlawful possession of scheduled drugs. She is being held at the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton in lieu of bail.
Peter Arno, MDEA commander, said the use of the synthetic drug commonly known as “bath salts” or “monkey dust”, remains high in parts of Aroostook County.
“The investigations into the local sources of this extremely dangerous drug are a priority for MDEA and our law enforcement partners in Aroostook County,” Arno said in the press release.
Aroostook County Sheriff Darrell Crandall also was pleased that the search and arrest resulted in more drugs being taken off the street.
“I continue to be very proud of the great work being done by MDEA, and I know that our neighbors here in The County value the impact their efforts are having on our communities,” he said.
The Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office currently assigns three officers on a full-time basis to the MDEA.
Also assisting in the investigation were members of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.
Arno said that the investigation was continuing and more arrests were possible.