WATERVILLE — Two men are scheduled to appear in court in May after police searched an apartment on Main Street this week and seized a large volume of illegal drugs, according to police.

John H. Cedeno, 27, and Christopher Nieves, 35, both of Waterville, were arrested and charged with Class A aggravated trafficking of crack, Class A trafficking of cocaine and Class A aggravated trafficking of crystal methamphetamine, acting police Chief Bill Bonney said in a statement released Wednesday to the news media.

Cedeno also was charged with Class C illegal possession of a firearm by a felon and two counts of Class E violation of conditions of release, and Nieves was placed on a probation hold.

Bonney said Waterville police Detective Duane Cloutier led a monthslong investigation into the case, and was joined Tuesday by other officers, including agents from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, in searching Cedeno’s apartment at 147 Main St.

Officers seized 588 grams of cocaine, 48 grams of crack, 14 grams of heroin, 18 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 25 grams of fentanyl, a loaded .357 Magnum revolver and cash believed to be from drug proceeds, according to Bonney.

At the time, Cedeno was required to follow bail conditions for two separate cases involving assault on an officer and assault, he said. Nieves was on a probation hold for unlawful trafficking in scheduled drugs.

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Bonney said Cloutier conducted a thorough investigation that resulted in the drug seizure.

“These types of investigations are incredibly important because they remove poison from our streets,” Bonney said in his statement to the media. “This seizure will put a significant dent in the drug trade in our community and perhaps save lives.”

Bonney also spotlighted the collaboration between his department and the state DEA, saying such operations take considerable time and could not be done without the agency’s help.

Cedeno and Nieves are being held without bail at Kennebec County Correctional Facility in Augusta and scheduled to appear May 8 at the Capital Judicial Center, also in Augusta.

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