Six people are facing charges for allegedly conspiring to smuggle suboxone strips into the Maine State Prison. The arrests are the result of a months-long investigation.

The Maine Department of Public Safety says agents from the MDEA Mid-Coast District task force, the Maine State Prison Investigative Unit, and the Maine State Police conducted a joint investigation over the past few months. During the investigation, 28 Suboxone strips were seized. They were packaged and destined to be delivered to the state prison in Warren during a visitation.

The drugs were mailed to Maine by Manny Sylvia, age 29 of New Bedford, Massachusetts. Sylvia was recently released from the prison in Warren after serving a sentence for trafficking in Oxycodone and Cocaine. He was arrested in 2011 by MDEA in Thomaston for possessing over 400 Oxycodone pills, 3 ounces of cocaine, and 7 grams of heroin and is currently on probation for those charges. On April 21st, he was arrested by the Bristol County Drug Task Force in Massachusetts on a Maine, MDEA warrant for aggravated trafficking in Suboxone, Class A. Extradition proceedings are pending.

18-year-old Emily Michaud of Portland and 37-year-old Rosa Colon of Waterville are charged with Trafficking in Suboxone, Class B. Police say both women were involved in receiving the strips from Sylvia, and repackaging them in preparation for them to be taken to the prison.

Also facing charges are three inmates at the Maine State Prison. 31-year-old MIchael Bailey, 33-year-old Jorge Santiago, and 20-year-old Tyler Crawford are all summonsed for trafficking in Suboxone, Class B. They allegedly coordinated with people outside the prison by arranging payments for the Suboxone and the methods to have the drugs smuggled into the prison. The investigation is ongoing and police say more arrests are expected.

Suboxone is the most sought after drug in the Maine State Prison and is sold there for over $400 a strip. The same Suboxone strips can be purchased outside the prison for between $7 and $10 dollars each.

If you have information about the illegal sale of drugs in the state, you're urged to contact the MDEA office closest to you or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 800-452-6457.

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