Updated Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.
Two men have been arrested in connection with a heroin drug ring between California and Alaska.
The Mat-Su Drug Enforcement Unit, with the help of other agencies, concluded an investigation Monday, after legwork led them to 26-year-old Macario Jose Lopez, who was found in an Anchorage hotel with approximately 105.5 grams of heroin, carrying a street value of $31,000.
While investigators were on scene, another male arrived, according to an online Alaska State Troopers dispatch. The man, who troopers have identified as a 26-year-old man from Anchorage, was also taken into custody after authorities found he was in possession of $3,000 and a loaded handgun.
Lopez, who troopers say is from California, was arrested for second- and fourth-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance. He was taken to the Anchorage Correctional Complex, where bail was set at $5,000.
The second suspect was arrested for second-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance, weapons misconduct and second-degree attempted escape, after he attempted to flee custody during transport to the Anchorage jail. His bail was set at $1,000, AST says.
Editor’s note: Troopers mistakenly identified the second suspect in this incident. This story has been changed to reflect AST’s corrected identification, that the second suspect was a 26-year-old man from Anchorage.