February 1st, 2018 by WCBC Radio

Maryland State Police have arrested and charged a pair of Baltimore men for their role in a heroin distribution operation, spanning from Baltimore City to Allegany County. The suspects, identified as Karl Stovall Chambers, 27, and Jason Arthur McCray, 35, both of Baltimore, Md., were arrested Wednesday after a vehicle they were traveling in was pulled over along Interstate 68 in Allegany County. The suspects were charged with possession of heroin and possession with intent to distribute heroin and are held without bail in the Allegany County Detention Center.

 

The traffic stop was conducted as part of the heroin distribution investigation by members of the Maryland State Police Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement Unit (P.A.C.E.) on I-68 West in Flintstone, Md. The investigation, which was initiated and conducted by the Allegany County Narcotics Task Force – who are part of the Maryland State Police Heroin Investigation Unit –  revealed the vehicle was transporting heroin from Baltimore.

 

A search of the vehicle was conducted after a drug-detecting canine alerted to the presence of drugs coming from the vehicle. Inside, troopers located approximately 300 grams of suspected heroin concealed in the vehicle. The estimated street value of the heroin in Allegany County is $54,000.

 

The Maryland State Police Heroin Investigation Unit (HIU) was formed after Governor Larry Hogan established the Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force due to the alarming rise in opiate-related overdose deaths in Maryland. The Heroin Investigation Unit is comprised of troopers from the state police’s Criminal Enforcement Division and supported by investigators from allied law enforcement agencies; the unit specifically targets mid-to-upper level heroin and opioid distribution operations operating in multiple jurisdictions throughout the state.

 

Additional charges are expected as the investigation continues.