WATERVILLE — Three people were arrested early Friday on drug trafficking charges after police raided an apartment on Elm Street and seized about 13 grams of cocaine, $4,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia.

Two children were also in the apartment when police arrived, according to Deputy police Chief Charles Rumsey.

Martha Marble, 29, and Hasani Francis, 22, both of 24 Elm St., Apt. 12, and Vincent Weaks, 29, of 38 Julian St., Apt. 2, Dorchester, Mass., each face a class A felony aggravated trafficking in drugs charge, Rumsey said.

The charges were considered aggravated because the Elm Street apartment is within 1,000 feet of a safe zone, the park on Belmont Street, Rumsey said.

Marble also faces an unlawful possession of drugs charge, because police found a methadone pill on her, Rumsey said.

Eleven officers from the Waterville and Oakland police departments, as well as from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, searched the apartment around 6 a.m. Friday, he said. The search followed a two-month investigation headed up by Waterville police Detective Lincoln Ryder, Rumsey said.

The two children, ages 2 and 7, were released into the custody of an aunt and the state Department of Health and Human Services was notified, he said.

The 13 grams, or 1/2 ounce of cocaine, is estimated to be worth about $1,300 on the street, Rumsey said.

Marble was released from the police station on $11,000 unsecured bail; Weaks and Francis were unable to make the $50,000 cash bail set for each and were taken to Kennebec County jail in Augusta.

All three are scheduled to appear in Kennebec County Superior Court at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 25.

Rumsey said when police arrested Francis, he had a Trinidad passport and while he said he is an U.S. citizen, police notified Immigration and Customs Enforcement of his arrest.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com