The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency arrested a South Portland man Aug. 21 after seizing a wide variety of drugs and $17,000 in cash.

Brandon York, 30, of 8 Rossetti Ave., was arrested Friday evening at his home, according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland. The drugs involved included cocaine, ecstasy, LSD and ketamine.

For the past month agents from the MDEA Cumberland District Task Force, along with Portland and South Portland police, have been investigating York as a suspected drug dealer, selling in Greater Portland, McCausland said. On Friday, Aug. 21, at approximately 5 p.m., drug agents arrested York at his home on an arrest warrant charging him with Class B trafficking in schedule W drugs.

During his arrest York was found in possession of suspected ketamine, LSD and MDA, also known as ecstasy. Agents later searched his home and located cocaine, MDA, packaging material and $5,000 in suspected drug proceeds, McCausland said.

During a month-long investigation, agents seized from York more than 150 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of MDA, 490 grams of marijuana, 300 grams of ketamine, 150 doses of LSD and a total of $17,000. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is $25,000. Ketamine is a general anesthetic used for human and veterinary purposes. Abuse of ketamine can lead to powerful visual hallucinations. It is also known as the “Rape Date” drug due to its strong side effects of confusion and/or amnesia, McCausland said.

York was transported to the Cumberland County Jail where he is now free on bail. Officers from the Portland and South Portland police departments assisted agents in the arrest and the search warrant.

The investigation is continuing and additional arrests are anticipated, McCausland said.

If you have information about this incident or the illegal sale of drugs in your community, you are urged to contact your local police department or the MDEA office closest to you by calling the MDEA tip-line at 800-452-6457.

Brandon York