By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
NEWPORT, N.H. — A Newport husband and wife drug dealing duo was arrested for alleged dealing of fentanyl, and over the last two weeks the Newport Police investigators involved in Operation Granite Shield have recovered more than 100 grams of suspected fentanyl.
Jake Ayotte, 25, and Brandel Ayotte, 46, both of Newport, were arrested on March 11, according to Newport Police Chief Steven “Alex” Lee.
Both subjects were charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and a felon in possession of a firearm. Brandel was also charged with hindering apprehension and resisting arrest, and Jake was taken into custody on a capias from Sullivan Superior Court for violating probation.
The Newport Police Department executed search and arrest warrants at 57 Reed Farm Road, and investigators recovered an undisclosed amount of suspected fentanyl, packaging consistent with drug sales and three firearms.
The Ayottes were held without bail at the Sullivan County House of Corrections pending arraignment, which took place at Newport District Court on Wednesday afternoon.
“The Newport Police Department, Claremont Police Department and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, along with our state and federal law enforcement partners, have continued to receive tips from the public regarding the trafficking of Fentanyl in Sullivan County,” a report by the Newport Police Department stated. “Investigators have also continued to analyze intelligence gathered from previous Granite Shield operations, resulting in the identification of additional suspects and target locations.”
The report added that the alliance between departments will continue to “aggressively root out the trafficking of Fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in our communities” using critical grant funding provided by the New Hampshire Substance Abuse Reduction Initiative, which is also known as Operation Granite Shield.
“We’re just continuing to use that grant money to continue to fund proactive drug investigations, gathering intelligence, collecting tips from the public, building cases with probable cause and then executing warrants,” Lee said.
Over the last year, Granite Shield has resulted in the following:
- 26 felony level drug arrests
- Over 2,242 grams (more than 2 kilograms) of Fentanyl
- 491 grams of Methamphetamine
- 115 grams of Cocaine and Crack Cocaine
- 949 prescription pills (including 82 pressed Fentanyl pills)
- 7 firearms
- $22,362 in cash
“In the last six to nine months, the quantity we are seeing are generally the largest amounts I have seen in my career,” Lee said. “We are definitely seeing higher quantities. Each time we’re gathering evidence and executing search warrants, there are bigger amounts than we have been used to in the past.”
He added, “Each arrest we make leads to new intelligence and opening new cases, and we will keep doing that as long as we have this funding source.”
Additional arrests and charges stemming from this investigation are anticipated in the near future. The public is encouraged to provide tips by calling 603-863-3232 or by email to [email protected].
