AUGUSTA – Four people were arrested this week in two separate drug investigations that police said have shone a spotlight on opiate addiction in central Maine.

Deputies from the Kennebec County Drug Task Force first searched the home of Paul E. Lavalle, 48, on Marston Road in Gardiner late Wednesday morning. There, they reportedly found approximately 7 grams of heroin valued at $2,100, three marijuana cultivation rooms, extensive marijuana processing equipment, six plants and 6 ounces of processed marijuana. Deputies also discovered several firearms and more than 2,000 marijuana seeds.

Lavalle was not home at the time of the search but turned himself in the next day. He was charged with Class A aggravated trafficking of scheduled drugs, aggravated cultivating of marijuana and unlawful furnishing of a scheduled drug. He has no prior criminal convictions. Bail was set at $1,000.

Later that day, deputies received a tip that three people were traveling to Massachusetts to buy heroin with the intent of bringing it back to Maine.

Police stopped a 1997 Dodge Stratus that was northbound on Interstate 95 in the Augusta area. A search of the car turned up 2 grams of heroin and several syringes valued at approximately $600. The vehicle was seized and all three occupants were arrested.

Lewis A. Hamilton, 22, of China, Justin M. Savell, 25, of Litchfield and Kellen A. Carter, 25, of Liberty were charged with unlawful possession of a scheduled drug and criminal conspiracy. Savell, the driver, was charged with operating with a suspended license.

Neither he nor Hamilton had any prior criminal history. Carter was held at Kennebec County Jail on a probation hold from a recent burglary conviction in Florida.

“Both investigations and subsequent arrests were the result of several months of investigation and evidence collection,” Kennebec County Sheriff Randall Liberty said in a statement. “Central Maine has a serious opiate addiction problem. Over the past three years there has been a large increase in heroin and illegal prescription medication use.

“We are aggressively pursing all leads. Anyone having any information regarding illegal drug use is encouraged to contact the sheriff’s office at 623-3591,” he said.