A shipment of heroin, fentanyl and methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $488,000 was seized by law enforcement in a case that resulted in the arrest of a Ketchikan man on felony drug charges.
“It's a lot as far as quantity,” Ketchikan Police Lt. Andy Berntson said about the amount of drugs during an Aug. 31 press conference about the case. “It's a lot anywhere, but (in) Ketchikan, it’s very significant.”
Larry P. Mardsen, 40, was taken into custody by Ketchikan Police Department officers on Aug. 29 and charged with one count each of second-degree and third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance.
Bail was set at $105,000. His next court appearance will be a preliminary hearing on Sept. 9.
Marsden's arrest came after he took possession of a mailed package that police say contained 501.4 grams of heroin and 444.8 grams of methamphetamine, according to Ketchikan police. Subsequent searches of Marsden and his belongings allegedly found 133 grams of fentanyl, 33.7 grams of heroin and 23.9 grams of methamphetamine.
The investigation involved Ketchikan police and the regional Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs task force. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service was involved with identifying the parcel, according to Berntson.
Law enforcement personnel outfitted the package with a beacon and tracking device pursuant to a state warrant. The package was delivered on Aug. 29 to the address on the package, an acquaintance of Marsden.
Marsden allegedly took possession of the package at a residence in Bear Valley, according to the police press release.
In addition to the other drugs found and seized during the searches of Marsden and his belongings, police seized $13,127 in cash because the money “appeared to be illicit drug proceeds,” Berntson said.
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