COVINGTON — A Pelkie man alleged to have brought large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into Baraga County was arrested Saturday after a yearlong Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) investigation.

UPSET detectives had made several undercover purchases of both drugs during the investigation, UPSET said in a release.

After determining the 55-year-old Pelkie man was traveling back from Milwaukee, detectives located the man’s vehicle on M-189 near Iron River. Michigan State Police Hometown Security Team made a traffic stop near Covington along with troopers from the Calumet Post.

During an exterior search, the HST K-9 unit indicated illegal drugs were in the vehicle’s engine compartment, UPSET said. Inside the engine compartment, troopers found a magnetic storage box containing a quarter-pound of illegal drugs, including cocaine and meth, UPSET said.

Officers executed an additional search warrant at a residence on Sarya Road in Pelkie. They seized 15 handguns, seven long guns and 2,500 rounds of ammunition, UPSET said. They also seized digital scales, a money counter and other drug paraphernalia.

The suspect’s name will not be released until his arraignment in 97th District Court in Baraga County.

The Baraga County prosecutor’s office is reviewing the case. Additional charges are expected.

UPSET was assisted by MSP – Hometown Security Team, MSP Calumet Post, Baraga County Sheriff’s Office and Dynamite Towing.