Crime & Safety

Cocaine Trafficker Arrested In Augusta: Police

Preston Cooper of Portland was found with about $6,000 worth of cocaine, police said.

AUGUSTA, ME — Augusta police on Thursday arrested a cocaine trafficking suspect during a traffic stop. Preston Cooper, 52, of Portland, was found with 30 grams of heroin worth $6,000, police said. He was held on $60,000 bail.

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Augusta police Detective Sergeant Jason Cote said on Thursday at about 1:30 a.m., officers "received information regarding a suspicious vehicle traveling to Augusta and possibly transporting a large amount of drugs."

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Officers located the vehicle on Winter Street at about 2 a.m. and found Cooper at the wheel, Cote said. He was arrested for driving after suspension/revocation and a search of the vehicle turned up the cocaine, he added.

Cooper was charged with aggravated drug trafficking. He was unable to post bail and transferred to the Kennebec County Correctional Facility, police said.

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Photo: Preston Cooper. (Credit: Augusta Police Department)


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