A Zelienople man was found in possession of nearly 300 stamp bags of suspected heroin in 2022 and was charged last week, police said.

On April 5, Zelienople police charged Gregory J. Basilone, 53, with two counts of misdemeanor drug possession in connection to a Sept. 14, 2022 incident.

Police said a black pickup truck parked in a “motorcycle only” spot in the borough first caught their attention that day. Basilone was found operating the vehicle and showed signs of impairment with pinpoint pupils and difficulty maintaining eye contact.

Basilone exited the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests, at which time an officer asked if he possessed any drugs. Basilone said no, but police noticed something in his right pants pocket.

After Basilone avoided emptying his pockets on several occasions, police said he stuffed the contents of his pocket into the back of his waistband. He was then placed in handcuffs and the package was removed.

Police said a plastic bag with four bricks of suspected heroin and two bricks of suspected heroin that had been opened were found in his waistband.

A brick is 50 stamp bags, totaling nearly 300 stamp bags of heroin on Basilone’s person, police said.

Additionally, an ounce of suspected crack cocaine and one suspected crack rock were found in the bag. A red straw and bag of rubber bands was also found in Basilone’s vehicle, according to the affidavit.

Basilone’s preliminary hearing before District Judge Amy Marcinkiewicz is scheduled for May 9.