ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. — Thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl were taken off the streets during a drug bust at homes in Covington and Slidell last week that resulted in the arrest of several members of what the sheriff's office calls a notorious drug gang.
The sheriff's office said that its narcotics detectives worked with Homeland Security on a three-month investigation that ended with the search of the homes of Jaylon Terry Carter, 22, Malik Deshawn Anderson, 28, Diego Montez Smith, 25, Rico Alonzo Bedford, 28, and Mikail Omar Washington, 30.
During their investigation into the VG organization, detectives and agents seized the following illegal items:
- Approximately 5,700 counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl (nearly 2 pounds)
- Approximately 3 pounds of marijuana
- 37 Alprazolam tablets (Xanax)
- 6.1 grams of psilocybin
- 1.8 grams of amphetamine powder
- 1 oxycodone tablet
- 1 bottle of promethazine
- $5,128 in cash
- Assorted drug paraphernalia indicative of the street-level distribution of illegal drugs
The group was arrested on several gun and drug charges.
“We have a great partnership with Homeland Security, and the detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Narcotics Unit work closely with them to identify those individuals dealing illegal drugs in our community,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “These arrests are because of that strong partnership. Together we want to send a clear message that gang activity will not be tolerated in St. Tammany Parish.”
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