15k bags of heroin reportedly found after Kent County drug investigation

The Delaware State Police Kent County Governor's Task Force says that they have completed a two week long investigation into illegal drug sales happening at a Townsend area motel with the arrest of three men.

Investigators say it started when they began searching for 20-year-old Sean Gaitens of Middletown, who was wanted for a probation violation. As the search for Gaitens continued, they learned that he may be staying at the Pleasant Hill Motel on Dupont Highway, and that he was reportedly involved in the sale of illegal drugs from the motel.

On Tuesday, task force members say they responded to the motel where they found Gaitens leave a room and go into the front passenger seat of a white Dodge nitro that was parked on the shoulder of Route 13 southbound in front of the motel. As the dodge moved back onto the road, investigators say they saw that Gaitens did not have his seatbelt on.

Police say when they stopped the car, Gaitens gave Task Force members a false name and that he was taken into custody without incident. A computer check of the driver, 38-year-old Robert Walcome of Newark, found that Walcome was allegedly driving the car with a suspended license and that he was wanted on an active warrant.

Walcome was also taken into custody without incident. A search of the car was then made where police say they found six bags of heroin and two strips of suboxone. Gaitens and Walcome were transported to Troop nine.

As the traffic stop continued, a red Hyundai was seen pulling into the lot of the motel. The driver of that car, 24-year-old Andrew Hubler of Millsboro, then reportedly got out of the car and knocked on the door of the room that had previously been used by Gaitens. Task force members then met with Hubler. After further investigation, police say that they learned that Hubler had illegal drugs.

A search of Hubler's Hyundai, with the help of a K-9 unit from the New Castle City Police Department, reportedly found 15,134 bags of heroin. Hubler was arrested by Task Force members and taken to Troop nine.

An administrative search of Sean Gaitens room reportedly found an additional 214 bags of heroin and $536 in suspected drug sale money. Gaitens was charged with possession of a controlled substance in a tier five quantity, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, maintaining a drug property, possession of a controlled substance in a tier one quantity, second degree conspiracy, criminal impersonation, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arraigned at JP Court two and committed to the James Vaughn Correctional Center on $86,000 cash bail.

Walcome was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, third degree criminal solicitation, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, and failure to properly secure a passenger with a seatbelt. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court two and released on $2,000 unsecured bail.

Andrew Hubler was charged with possession of a controlled substance in a tier five quantity, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance in a tier one quantity, second degree conspiracy, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned at Justice of the Peace court two and committed to the James Vaughn Correctional Center in default of $75,000 cash bail.