500 suspected doses of fentanyl/heroin mix found at home

Francis Sinclair (Courtesy photos)

LEBANON - A Lebanon man was arrested early Thursday on charges of trafficking fentanyl.

Taken into custody at his home by a State Police tactical team was 61-year-old Francis Sinclair, who was charged with Trafficking in Schedule W Drugs (Fentanyl) Class B.

According to a press release from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, drug agents from the MDEA York District Task Force had been conducting an investigation into the distribution of heroin and fentanyl by Sinclair for the past three months.

As part of the probe a number of undercover purchases of the drug were made from him at his home.

Suspected fentanyl/heroin doses allegedly found at Francis Sinclair's home on River Road in Lebanon on Thursday.

Around 4 a.m. agents, troopers and three State Police K-9 teams searched Sinclair's home at 646 River Road in Lebanon. Due to a number of officer safety concerns including a number of guns positioned throughout the home, the State Police Tactical Team made entry into the home.

Sinclair was located inside and arrested without incident. A search resulted in the seizure of approximately 50 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl mix, which is the equivalent of 500 doses. Also seized were 11 firearms, some $2,000 in suspected drug proceeds, electronic scales and other evidence of drug trafficking.

Fentanyl is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin and is often mixed with heroin or sold as heroin and because of its potency, there is an increased danger of a drug user overdosing. Sinclair was transported to the York County Jail where bail was set at $25,000 cash.