Two busted in Seward with stash of illegal drugs

Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Wildlife Troopers executed a search warrant on Sept. 19 at a Seward residence, where they found two people in possession of a large trove of illegal drugs.

Michele Spiers, 58, and John Hoogland, 68, had been the subject of an investigation that had started in July.

They were said to be in possession of fentanyl pills, fentanyl powder, heroin, methamphetamine, hydrocodone, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, dronabinol, and suboxone. They also had packaging materials, digital scales, multiple cell phones, counterfeit money, and ledgers that detailed what appears to be the sale of illegal drugs over four years.

Troopers said evidence seized during the raid implicated numerous other individuals and further charges are expected to follow.

Spiers and Hoogland were charged with three counts of misconduct involving controlled substances in the second degree, four counts of MICS in the third degree, and one count of MICS in the fourth degree.

Spiers was also charged with one count of violating her conditions of release. Both were booked at Wildwood Pretrial Facility in Kenai without bail. The investigation is ongoing, Troopers said.

Spiers has been in and out of jail for years on various criminal charges. Hoogland appears to be a truck driver and his court record is mostly for violations related to trucking, such as overweight, registration issues.