The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office arrested a Destrehan woman after she accepted a package containing more than 1,000 grams of the illegal drug known as bath salts.
“We’ve made a lot of bath salts arrests, but I believe this is the first time it has been shipped,” Capt. Pat Yoes, spokesman for the Sheriff’ Office, said.
The package was intercepted at the John F. Kennedy International Airport’s mail branch on its way to 230 Meadows Drive in Destrehan. It was found to contain roughly 2.3 pounds of the brown, crystal-like substance. An analysis of the package confirmed the crystals’ illicit nature.
Working with the U.S. Postal Service and Department of Homeland Security, investigators in St. Charles Parish conducted a controlled delivery of the package.
Lojoan M. Fiffie, 39, was arrested after signing for the package at the address.
The Sheriff’s Office valued the package at more than $90,000.
Investigators later acquired a warrant to search Fiffie’s residence, where they said they found the bath salts, in addition other drugs and drug paraphernalia. Investigators said they also found an infant residing within the household.
Bath salts are an amphetamine-like substance that, though producing a 6-to-8-hour long euphoric affect similar to the drug ecstasy, can also result in severe paranoia, psychosis and aggressive behavior, according to the National Institutes of Health. The substance has only recently been classified as illegal within the United States, and can not be detected through routine drug screenings. Overdoses can result in strokes, heart attacks, seizures and death, the NIH advises.
Fiffie is charged with possession with intent to distribute a schedule I controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Phenobarbital, possession of Tramadol, possession of Valium and possession of a controlled substance in the presence of a juvenile.
She was released from jail after posting a $5,030 cash bond.
Be the first to comment