AUGUSTA — Thirteen new agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, including two who will be working in York County, were sworn in Monday in Augusta.

The two new agents will join the four already assigned to York County and are to begin work immediately, said Maine Public Safety Commissioner John Morris.

Funding for the new agents was approved by Gov. Paul LePage and the Maine Legislature, which increased MDEA’s authorized strength to 53 agents – the largest contingent since the early 1990s, according to Maine Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland.

The new hires bring the total number of MDEA agents to 52, with the last remaining vacancy expected to be filled in the next four to six weeks, McCausland said.

The 13 new agents are experienced officers and hail from five county sheriff ’s offices, seven police departments and the U.S. Border Patrol.

MDEA Director Roy McKinney said the support from sheriffs and police chiefs to assign their personnel to MDEA has been gratifying as the drug agency continues to deal with Maine’s increasing drug problem.

McKinney said the new agents – who are not being named – have been assigned to York County, Cumberland County, Rockland, Augusta, Bangor, Ellsworth and Aroostook County.

The last time the agency had more than 50 agents was in 1991, he said.

“The new agents come at a time when Maine has seen a record number of overdose deaths, heroin arrests and meth lab responses,” said Morris. “The support from the governor and the Legislature has made the new drug agents a reality, and they begin work immediately.”