Washington County Man Arrested With Over 200 Grams of Fentanyl

The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency has arrested a Steuben man, after seizing 228 grams of fentanyl from his premises.

Wayne Smeal, 65, was arrested while MDEA agents and members of the Washington County Sheriff's Office were conducting surveillance on a wooded area in Steuben. Officials say Smeal parked his vehicle at a nearby business and walked into the woods. When he returned to the vehicle, drug agents approached him and found 10 grams of fentanyl and a loaded .357 revolver in his pocket. A search of the wooded area Smeal had just visited resulted in the discovery of a plastic container with another 218 grams of fentanyl inside. A search warrant was obtained and law enforcement officials searched Smeal's residence on Smeal Lane in Steuben, seizing $6,560 in cash that is believed to be proceeds from drug sales.

He was charged with Aggravated Trafficking in Fentanyl and taken to Washington County Jail, where his bail was set at $50,000. Smeal's arrest was part of an ongoing investigation that resulted in the arrest of his son, 32-year-old William Smeal, in May.

MDEA officials say more than a pound of Fentanyl was seized over the past four days, including from a man who was found slumped behind the wheel of his SUV in Bangor, and in possession of 300 pounds of the deadly drug. If all the drugs had been sold in gram quantities, the conservative retail value is more than $100,000.

Anyone with information about this or any drug crime is encouraged to contact the MDEA Tip Line at 800-452-6457. Anonymous tips can be left using MDEA's Tip411 application for iPhone and Android, by texting 'MDEA,' followed by the information, to 8474111.