Pubdate: Tue, 03 Jan 2017
Source: Baltimore Sun (MD)
Copyright: 2017 The Baltimore Sun Company
Contact:  http://www.baltimoresun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/37

TWO KILOS OF HEROIN SEIZED, VIRGINIA MAN ARRESTED IN HARFORD TRAFFIC STOP

[photo]
Police in Harford County seized two kilos of heroin during a traffic stop
in Havre de Grace on Thursday, according to the Harford County Sheriff's
Office. A Virginia man faces multiple drug possession and distribution
charges. (Harford County Sheriff's Office / Baltimore Sun)

Police in Harford County seized two kilograms of heroin and arrested a
Portsmouth, Va., man on drug charges, during a traffic stop in Havre de
Grace, the Harford County Sheriff's Office said.

The investigation by the Harford County Task force that led to the arrest
of Servonte Rhamone Smith, 26, is continuing in an attempt to locate other
suspects in what detectives believe is a heroin trafficking organization
that has been operating in Harford County, according to a Sheriff's Office
news release.

Smith, who is charged with possession of heroin, possession with intent to
distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute large amounts
of heroin, was initially held on $200,000 bond following his arrest.

Smith's bond was reduced to $150,000 during a bail review Friday
afternoon, according to court records. He was still being held at the
Harford County Detention Center on Saturday, a Sheriff's Office
spokesperson said.

Smith, who is charged with possession of heroin, possession with intent to
distribute heroin and possession with intent to distribute large amounts
of heroin, was being held at the Harford County Detention Center on
$200,000 bond, as of Friday night.

According to the news release, detectives with the task force received
information from a confidential source that a subject in the 400 block of
Congress Avenue in Havre de Grace on Thursday was in possession of a large
amount of a controlled dangerous substance.

Detectives began conducting surveillance in the area and observed the
suspect in a vehicle with California registration plates. On several
occasions, Detectives observed the suspect exit the vehicle and enter an
apartment building on Congress Avenue, according to the release.

Before detectives could conduct a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle, the
suspect, later identified as Smith, parked and exited the vehicle in an
expedient manor. Detectives made contact with Smith, on whom they could
smell an overwhelming odor of burnt marijuana, according to the release,
and he was placed under arrest.

Smith's vehicle was searched, during detectives observed an open package
on the passenger's side back seat, according to the release. Inside the
open package, detectives located what appeared to be two "bricks" or
"kilos"-- kilograms/2.2 pounds per kilogram -- of a controlled dangerous
substance.

The packages were two vacuum-sealed plastic bags wrapped with duct tape
that detectives immediately recognized as being consistent with packaging
utilized by drug traffickers, the news release states.

Smith, the suspected drugs and Smith's vehicle were transported to the
Havre de Grace Police Department to continue the investigation, according
to the release.

Detectives later punctured both kilogram packages and observed inside each
package a light brown powdery substance suspected to be heroin. A small
portion of the substance was removed from each package and field tested.
Both tests resulted in a positive reaction for heroin, the news release
states.

Accordingto the Sheriff's Office, follow-up search and seizure warrants
were executed at the apartment in the 400 block of Congress Avenue in
Havre de Grace and at a hotel room in Aberdeen.

Currency, drug packaging materials, a small amount of marijuana and
related documents were recovered during the execution of the search
warrants, police said.

The Harford County Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional operation with
members from the Sheriff's Office, Maryland State Police, Aberdeen Police
Department, Bel Air Police Department, Havre de Grace Police Department,
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Harford County States
Attorney's Office, investigates mid to upper level drug trafficking,
homeland security and vice, according to the news release.
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