Neighborhood tip leads to pot in tires

VAN BUREN – The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency this week arrested one Mainer with a history of criminal activity and a couple from Canada for allegedly smuggling marijuana into the state from New Brunswick by hiding it inside vehicle tires.

St. Agatha resident Roger Theriault, 64, and Antoine Dube, 58, and his wife Carol Dube, 58, both of St. Leonard, N.B., were charged with trafficking in scheduled drugs on Tuesday, according to a press release from MDEA Division Commander Darrell Crandall.

Theriault, who is a convicted felon, also was charged with illegal possession of firearms after a revolver, two rifles and a shotgun were seized from his home on the Morneault Road, according to the release. Also confiscated in the raid were more than eight pounds of marijuana, $11,240 in U.S. currency, and a homemade device built for breaking down vehicle tires.

Evidence collected from Theriault’s home and the Dube’s vehicles indicate the three were smuggling the drugs into the United States by hiding the product inside vehicle tires, the MDEA said.

All three suspects have made bail and are scheduled to make an initial appearance in Aroostook County Superior Court on Sept. 26. If convicted, the suspects face up to five years in prison. The MDEA indicated additional suspects may be charged.

A multi-agency partnership involving the MDEA, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Van Buren Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department, Maine State Police and Aroostook County Crimestoppers is behind the arrests, Crandall said.

“The communication and cooperation between the various agencies made the difference between catching these suspects and not – it is as simple as that,” the MDEA division commander said. “Cross border importation of marijuana, methamphetamine, prescription and other drugs continues to be a major issue tapping very limited law enforcement resources in Northern Maine.”

A concerned citizen, who reported suspicious activity that was “consistent with common drug smuggling practices” led police to investigate, Crandall said, adding that his agency relies “very heavily on people noticing things out of place in their neighborhoods and reporting that activity.”

Anyone with information about this case or other suspected criminal activities can call Aroostook County Crimestoppers at 1-800-638-TIPS.