WATERVILLE — Police found 645 oxycodone pills during a body cavity search of a New York City woman Saturday.

According to Waterville police Deputy Chief Charles Rumsey, police received a tip Friday from a confidential source that the woman, Ebony Howard, 28, would be entering Waterville around midnight with the drugs, along with William Waters, 31, also of New York City.

Police received a description of the vehicle and the two people and watched the area for several hours that night before spotting and arresting them at 12:30 a.m. Saturday at an Irving gas station on Kennedy Memorial Drive.

Rumsey said the arrest, made by Detective Duane Cloutier, occurred without incident. He said that after the two were detained, Howard was searched and police found the pills “packed into her body cavities.”

Rumsey said the drugs had a street value of $20,000.

Waters also had a small amount of marijuana and 2.7 grams of a substance being tested in Augusta, Rumsey said, adding that police suspect the substance is ecstasy.

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Each is charged with aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, police said. The charges are class A crimes, which can be punished by up to 30 years in prison and $50,000 in fines. Rumsey said police expect more charges against Waters after the substance is tested.

About eight police officers, including an agent from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, assisted with the surveillance and arrest.

Rumsey said it is not unusual to find out-of-state drug dealers selling prescriptions in central Maine.

Water and Howard had not been released on bail by Saturday afternoon. Water’s bail is set at $50,000 cash, and Howard’s bail is set at $30,000 cash. They are both scheduled to appear at a videoconference arraignment Monday afternoon.

Kaitlin Schroeder– 861-9252
kschroeder@mainetoday.com


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