SANFORD — Maine drug agents have arrested five people for allegedly trafficking in cocaine, crack and oxycodone and said the crackdown will continue.

Maine Drug Enforcement Agency Supervisor Steve Borst on Wednesday said several drug investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are likely in the coming weeks.

“We’re kind of hammering Sanford. We’re hoping to send a message,” said Borst. He said the agency, which works in cooperation with Sanford Police, will keep up the pressure on suspected drug dealers.

MDEA’s York Task Force is made up of several local police officers on assignment, including officers from the Wells, Biddeford and Sanford police departments.

Sanford Police Chief Thomas Connolly said there’s a value to having an officer assigned to MDEA in the form of increased attention on Sanford’s drug traffickers.

Sanford Police can and do make drug arrests, but MDEA is able to concentrate solely on the drug trade, he said. In a small town where everyone, including drug dealers, know who the local police are and what they look like, undercover operations aren’t possible.

“We do a fair amount as a patrol force, but if you really want to get to the (drug) people you need to do a long-term investigation, and you need an undercover operation,” Connolly said. “Anytime (MDEA) wants to come to Sanford we will help them. It is in our best interests to have them here.”

Arrested so far this summer were:

”¢  Sarah Roy, 30, and Matthew Spaulding, who are charged with aggravated trafficking in cocaine. Borst said undercover agents allegedly purchased cocaine from the couple on three occasions, two of which were in a school zone. Agents said Roy’s 7-year-old daughter was present at two of the drug sales, and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services was notified. Roy is free on bail; Spaulding, a federally convicted drug trafficker on probation for theft and drug related charges, is being held on a probation violation charge.

”¢  Marc Plante, 43, was arrested after a search warrant was executed at his home on Main Street in Springvale after agents allegedly made several cocaine purchases from him. One of the purchases reportedly took place in a school zone, and Plante has been charged with aggravated trafficking in cocaine. He is being held at York County Jail on a probation violation in connection with theft-related charges.

”¢  Acting on a tip, MDEA launched an investigation into Christopher Roach, 26, on allegations that he was selling crack from a Kimball Street residence. Working with Sanford Police, MDEA agents went to Roach’s residence and arrested him on a warrant from Portland, charging him with domestic violence terrorizing. During a search of the residence, MDEA agents seized approximately $500 worth of crack cocaine. Roach was charged with crack cocaine trafficking and taken to county jail. A 4-year-old child was present during this incident and DHHS was notified.

”¢  Brittany L’Heureux , 21, was arrested on a warrant charging trafficking in oxycodone. Through an MDEA investigation, agents allegedly purchased oxycodone from L’Heureux on several occasions. Agents executed a search warrant at her Cottage Street residence, but she was not at home at the time. York County Superior Court issued an arrest warrant, and L’Heureux turned herself into Sanford Police Tuesday. She was taken to the York County Jail.

— Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 or twells@journaltribune.com.