Chase in Brunswick leads to trafficking charges, police say

A Massachusetts man faces drug charges after a brief pursuit in Brunswick, police said.

An officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Route 1 northbound for a suspected traffic violation shortly before 1 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, according to a news release from the Brunswick Police Chief, Scott Stewart.

“The operator refused to stop and sped off,” Stewart said. “During the short chase, the operator threw a paper bag out the window of the vehicle. A secondary pursuit vehicle was able to stop and recover the bag, finding suspected illegal drugs inside.

“After a short pursuit, the operator came to a complete stop while on New Meadows Road.”

Police found 258.2 grams of fentanyl, 11.9 grams of cocaine and 9.7 grams of methamphetamine during the stop, according to Stewart.

The amount of fentanyl police say they found — 258.2 grams — is less than half a pound. However, according to the US DEA, just 2 milligrams of powdered fentanyl is enough to kill an average American.

Hamet Badia, 29, of Lawrence, Mass., was arrested and charged with aggravated trafficking in scheduled drugs, Class A, Stewart said. Class A felonies are punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.

Badia was also charged with two counts of illegally trafficking in scheduled drugs, eluding a police officer and driving with a suspended license, according to Stewart.

Badia is scheduled to appear Aug. 20 in Portland Superior Court. Cash bail was set at $15,000 and he was transported to the Cumberland County Jail.