GREENFIELD — Three Vermont men were arrested on charges of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and trafficking in cocaine after a traffic stop in Greenfield.
Arrested were driver Arlo Rhein, 19, and David Poginy, 25, both of St. Johnsbury, and Albert Vieira, 24, of Danville.
Police say the men were carrying about 22 grams of cocaine and 70 wax bags of fentanyl, the synthetic version of heroin that can be up to 100 times more potent, and five 12-gauge shotgun shells.
The men were driving up from Hartford, Conn., and Springfield, according to two of their statements to the police, where they typically go to purchase drugs.
State police stated that they first noticed the Subaru Impreza traveling north on Interstate 91 with a dirty license plate that could not be read. The vehicle exited the highway in Greenfield, where the trooper would eventually catch up to the car on River Road. Only when directly behind the car could the trooper read the plate.
When he stopped the car, Trooper Anthony Lavigne said, he saw the driver and two others in the car were not wearing their seat belts.
Greenfield Police Sgt. David Rice saw the trooper pull over the car and stopped to provide backup. He stated he saw the front-seat passenger appear to reach across to the driver’s side and under his feet or the seat. The passenger allegedly was holding a green hollow tube, typically used as a snorting straw, containing white residue. Also near the passenger was a folding knife.
The police then searched the car and its occupants. All three were charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to violate drug laws and possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card.
Rhein was also cited for a license plate violation, failure to stop for a light and failure to provide proof of registration.
Poginy and Vieira were cited for a seat belt violation.
The three were held at Franklin County House of Correction. Rhein’s bail was set at $5,000, Vieira’s at $2,000 and Poginy’s at $1,000. Rhein and Poginy were arraigned in Greenfield District Court Wednesday. Rhein was held at the jail and will reappear in court Sept. 13.