A Vineyard Haven man was arrested on drug charges in Oak Bluffs Wednesday after police found him coming off a commuter ferry carrying 10 grams of heroin.

Asa W. French, 28, was arraigned in Edgartown district court Thursday morning on possession of a class A drug (heroin) with intent to distribute. He was released on $400 bail.

The investigation that led to the arrest was carried out by the Martha’s Vineyard Drug Task Force with assistance from Falmouth police. According to a police report filed in court, head of the task force and state police Sgt. Jeff Stone, along with Edgartown and Oak Bluffs officers assigned to the task force, learned from an informant that Mr. French took the 1:15 p.m. Steamship Authority ferry to Woods Hole with the intent to purchase and bring back heroin to sell on the Vineyard.

Police said Mr. French completed the drug transaction in Falmouth and returned to the Vineyard on the ferry Patriot. Upon exiting the ferry, he was approached by police and taken to the Oak Bluffs station for questioning. Police said he admitted he was carrying a package containing 10 grams of heroin. He told police he paid $1,300 for the narcotics.

“Ten grams of heroin is worth about $2,000 here, street price,” said Sergeant Stone. Police seized the narcotics and Mr. French was transported to the Edgartown house of correction prior to arraignment.

A pretrial hearing was set for Feb. 7.