Two Juneau residents were arrested Tuesday afternoon at Juneau International Airport after police say they found more than $100,000 worth of drugs in the passengers’ possession.
Ryan Timothy Lee, 26 and Cole Jacob Ripley, 21, were arrested after arriving from Seattle at about 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon at Juneau International Airport, according to Juneau Police Department. Both men were taken to Lemon Creek Correctional Center and charged with second-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance and third-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance. The maximum penalty for these charges is 30 years imprisonment, according to police.
Lee and Ripley were contacted as they exited the plane, according to police, and following an investigation police found 304.95 grams of counterfeit oxycodone believed to contain fentanyl and 68.78 grams of methamphetamine.
The arrest marks the third recent high-profile drug bust in the city, including another at the airport three days before.
Members of the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs task force developed the intelligence that allowed for the arrest, according to police. The task force is made up of local, state and federal law enforcement organizations operating in the region, according to the news release.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
