Sheriff Randy Smith says they have dedicated extra resources and are proactively working toward getting drugs out of St. Tammany neighborhoods and arresting the individuals responsible for bringing them there.
Sheriff Smith said those efforts are paying off with the number of drug arrests and illegal drugs and firearms being recovered off the streets of St. Tammany.
Sheriff Smith wants to commend the individuals with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit for the work they have done to identify local dealers and remove contraband from the streets before it made it down the supply chain into our neighborhoods.
During the last quarter, approximately 94 individuals have been arrested for felony drug offenses along with an additional 53 misdemeanor drug arrests. Eleven of those arrests were for offenses related to fentanyl, including the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit pills.
After numerous fentanyl-related overdoses, the Narcotics Unit has focused much of its recent efforts on targeting those producing and distributing items containing the deadly drug.
Sheriff Smith and STPSO continue to work with the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office to combat the influx of fentanyl. Since August 1, STPSO detectives have taken approximately 11.26 pounds of fentanyl and 280 pressed pills, which tested positive for fentanyl, off the streets. This includes what is believed to be the largest single seizure of fentanyl in St. Tammany.
Of the remaining arrests, 27 were for methamphetamine-related offenses and 5 were for offenses related to heroin. Since August 1, STPSO Narcotics detectives have seized approximately 10.4 pounds of methamphetamine and 7.4 grams of heroin.
In addition to the narcotics, 28 illegal firearms were also seized during this timeframe. These firearms were either stolen, in the possession of convicted felons or in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.
The above noted arrests and seizures are due in large part to the proactive efforts of the STPSO Narcotics Unit. Narcotics detectives routinely patrol areas where narcotics sales are reported and neighborhoods where drug activity is known to be occurring. Traveling criminals trafficking narcotics and other contraband into St. Tammany from outside points of origin are also targeted. By interdicting the items before they hit the streets of St. Tammany, the local supply is disrupted.
If you know of someone who is selling drugs, call the anonymous tip line at 1-888-GO-2-Jail (1-888-462-5245) or send in an anonymous tip via our website at www.stpso.com/report-a-crime.
