A 46-year-old local man faced felony drug and weapons charges this week after his arrest at the Haines airport Tuesday with a concealed fanny-style pack containing 80 pills believed to be fentanyl and a loaded pistol strapped to his ankle.
The pack concealing his groin area also contained 2.4 ounces of methamphetamine, two baggies containing powdery and “crystal-like” substances weighing a combined 4.4 grams and $950 in cash in $50 bills, according to police.
Police estimate the street value of the seized drugs at $13,000 to $15,000.
Sgt. Josh Dryden said police believed the man was returning from a trip to Juneau. He had been watched for some time following reports of unusual activity in a neighborhood south of Fort Seward.
Following the arrest, police searched a home at 23 Tower Road and found four digital scales bearing white residue and packages containing ready-to-use baggies of various sizes emblazoned with decals like a devil’s head with script reading “Stay High.” Empty gel capsules also were found there and a vehicle was searched.
Dryden was unable to say whether the arrest was connected to a report of two toddlers ingesting illicit substances also on Tuesday or whether the defendant was a significant operator in the illegal drug trade here.
The man was scheduled to be arraigned in Haines court Wednesday. Dryden said the department’s investigation was led by officer Max Jusi with assistance from state and federal law agencies.