Two people were arrested on heroin trafficking charges in unrelated incidents Friday on the Maine Turnpike in York.

Jorge Medina, 36, of Sanford was charged with aggravated trafficking in heroin and Leah Thurlow, 59, of Old Orchard Beach was charged with aggravated trafficking in heroin and violation of conditions of release, Maine State Police said.

Medina was arrested on the turnpike in York following an investigation by Sanford police and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. A search of the vehicle he was riding in uncovered 32 grams, or 320 doses, of heroin, 4 grams of crack cocaine and 4 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, state police said.

He was taken to the York County Jail, where bail was set at $25,000. The value of the drugs is about $6,000. The driver of the vehicle, who was not identified by police, received a traffic summons.

While the Medina arrest was underway, other agents saw a vehicle traveling north from New Hampshire operated by Thurlow, who had been arrested in early March for possessing heroin during a stop on the turnpike, state police said. She was out of jail on bail on that charge.

Maine state troopers stopped her vehicle in York and MDEA agents searched her vehicle and seized 16 grams or 160 doses of heroin, state police said.

She was taken to the York County Jail, where she was denied bail for violating her existing bail terms. Street value of the heroin taken from Thurlow’s vehicle was estimated at $2,500.

There is no connection between the two arrests, state police said.


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