WATERVILLE — Three people were arrested early Friday on drug trafficking charges  after police raided an apartment on Elm Street and seized  about 13 grams of cocaine, $4,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia.
Two young children were in the apartment when police arrived there, according to Deputy police Chief Charles Rumsey.
Martha Marble, 29, of 24 Elm St., Apt. 12 was charged with one count of Class A felony aggravated trafficking in drugs (cocaine) and unlawful possession of drugs, as police found a methadone pill on her person, Rumsey said.
The charge was considered aggravated because her apartment is within 1,000 feet of a safe zone, the park on Belmont Street, Rumsey said.
Vincent Weaks, 29, of 38 Julian St., Apt. 2, Dorchester, Mass., was arrested and charged with one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs; and Hasani Francis, 22, of 24 Elm St., Apt. 12, was charged with Class A felony aggravated trafficking in drugs, Rumsey said.
Eleven officers from Waterville and Oakland police departments, as well as from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, searched the apartment around 6 a.m. Friday, he said. The search followed a two-month investigation headed up by Waterville police Detective Lincoln Ryder, who obtained the search warrant, Rumsey said.
“When they executed the search warrant today, there were two young children in the apartment, ages two and seven, and those children were released into the custody of an aunt,” Rumsey said. “DHHS (state Department of Health and Human Services) has been notified.”
Ryder suspected drug activity at the apartment during his investigation, he said.
The 13 grams, or 1/2 ounce of cocaine, is estimated to be worth about $1,300 on the street, Rumsey said. He said it is possible the cocaine was brought into Maine from Massachusetts.
“They also seized ($,4000) cash and evidence of drug trafficking, scales, packaging materials,” he said.
Marble was released from the police station on $11,000 unsecured bail; Weaks and Francis were unable to make the $50,000 cash bail set for each and both were taken to Kennebec County Jail in Augusta.
All three are scheduled to appear in Kennebec County Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 25.
Rumsey said when police arrested Francis, he had a Trinidad passport in his possession and while he claimed to be an American citizen, police notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement of his arrest.
He said that as part of the investigation, police used surveillance and other techniques before arresting him, Marble and Weaks.
 Rumsey said the investigation was a good effort on the part of Ryder and the other investigators.
“We’re very happy it was able to be done safely and successfully,” he said.

Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com