AUBURN, Maine — Employees of a Maine restaurant obtained a shock once they opened a big wood crate that they thought was a cargo of mugs that they had not too long ago ordered.

Instead, they discovered a plastic tote that contained what legislation enforcement suspect is 14 kilograms of the highly effective artificial opioid fentanyl with an estimated road worth of $3 million, Auburn police Deputy Chief Timothy Cougle stated in a press release Saturday.

The tote had a delivery label with the restaurant’s handle however the title of somebody who didn't work there. Employees who opened it noticed what they thought seemed like medicine, in order that they contacted police, Cougle stated.

The crate from Arizona that arrived within the Maine city about 30 miles north of Portland was taken to the police division, the place a chemical subject examination confirmed it contained fentanyl.

About an hour later, the person whose title was on the cargo confirmed up searching for the crate and was arrested, police stated.

Jeremy Mercier, 41, of Auburn, was charged with drug offenses and for violating bail situations. He is being held in a county jail with out bail. It couldn't be decided if he had an lawyer.

Mercier beforehand hung out behind bars on a 2007 federal drug conviction, Cougle stated.

The investigation is ongoing, and Cougle stated he anticipates state and federal legislation enforcement getting concerned.

Mike Peters, the co-owner of Mac’s Grill, instructed WMTW-TV in an electronic mail that he's glad the medicine didn't make it to the streets.

“The instances of overdose in our, and surrounding, communities is awful, and fentanyl seems to be front and center when it comes to fatalities,” he stated. “It is very sad.”

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