Tuesday, March 3, 2026
MDEA PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Commander Brandon Vafiades- (207) 941-4732
Baileyville & Calais, Maine
Arrested:
Katherine Smith – (36) of Baileyville – Class B Unlawful Trafficking of Schedule W Drugs (Cocaine Base & Methamphetamine) – Bail set at $100.00
Bruce Bailey – (37) of Baileyville – Class D Possession of Cocaine Base. PR Bail
Dim Akopian (40) of Dumont, New Jersey – Class B Unlawful Trafficking of Schedule W Drugs. Bail set at $10,000.00
On Monday, March 2, 2026, following a weeklong investigation into suspected drug trafficking activity at a Baileyville motel, agents with the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency (MDEA) arrested three individuals on drug-related charges.
The investigation was conducted by MDEA’s Down East Task Force, which covers Hancock and Washington Counties. Agents conducted surveillance at a motel in Baileyville. During the surveillance, agents observed activity in one of the rooms that was consistent with illegal drug trafficking. Based on information developed during the investigation, agents applied for and were granted a search warrant for the motel room.
At approximately 8:30 am, agents observed 36-year-old Katherine Smith of Baileyville exit the motel room and meet briefly with an occupied vehicle nearby. Agents detained Smith outside the motel. She was later arrested and charged with Class B Unlawful Trafficking in Scheduled Drugs and transported to the Washington County Jail.
The vehicle that met with Smith was subsequently stopped by the Baileyville Police Department. The operator was identified as 37-year-old Bruce Bailey of Baileyville. Bailey was charged with Unlawful Possession of Cocaine Base (crack).
With assistance from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Baileyville Police Department, and United States Border Patrol, agents secured the motel room and executed the search warrant. During the search, agents seized approximately 64 grams (gross weight) of methamphetamine, along with other evidence indicative of drug trafficking.
At approximately 3:42 pm, U.S. Border Patrol conducted a traffic stop in Baileyville on another vehicle believed to be associated with the trafficking activity at the motel. The operator, 40-year-old Dim Akopian of New Jersey was detained. Agents subsequently charged Akopian with Class B Unlawful Trafficking in Scheduled Drugs, and he was transported to the Washington County Jail.
As a result of evidence developed during the motel investigation, agents applied for and were granted a second search warrant for Smith’s apartment located at 20 Monroe Street in Calais. At approximately 4:00 pm, with assistance from the Maine State Police Tactical Team, agents executed the warrant and located additional evidence of drug trafficking.
Booking photos are available through the Washington County Jail.
Agents were assisted in the case by Washington County Sherriff’s Department, Baileyville Police, Maine State Police Tactical Team, US Border Patrol, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The MDEA stands committed to working with all federal, state, county, and local law enforcement partners in order to continue to identify and disrupt drug trafficking organizations who are attempting to distribute illicit drugs in the State of Maine.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you suffer with substance use disorder please call 211 or text your zip code to 898-211 for a list of resources available in your area.
If you have information about this investigation or the illegal sale of drugs in your community, you are urged to contact the Maine Drug Enforcement office closest to you or by texting MDEA to TIP411 (847411) or by calling the MDEA tip-line at 1-800-452-6457.
Maine’s Statewide Drug Task Force
Administrative Office located at: 45 Commerce Drive·Augusta·Maine·04333-0166 Phone: (207)626-3850