A Boston man was convicted of trafficking cocaine Tuesday following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court in Portland.

Cuwan Merritt, 29, and Michael Artis traveled from Boston en route to Lewiston on May 12, 2017, with the intention of selling cocaine base, commonly known as crack, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank said in a statement. Police officers stopped their motor vehicle when the duo reached Auburn.

Drug agents working with a police dog seized 57 prepackaged 0.5 gram bags of crack form Artis and later found more crack Merritt had hidden in his body.

Merritt faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Artis pleaded guilty to the same charge in June and awaits sentencing.

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