Residents help pinpoint suspects for major bust
An 11-month undercover operation by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office came to an end last week, as it announced the arrests of 36 suspects linked to street-level drug trade.
The investigation focused on street drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and crack cocaine and targeted drug dealers throughout St. Charles Parish.
“We specifically targeted street corner dealers, disruptive people whose neighbors consistently complained about them,” Sheriff Greg Champagne said. “It was a straight up undercover operation, one of the various ways we enforce drug laws. We used officers posing as drug buyers.”
The operation, which was carried out by the Special Investigations Division of the Sheriff’s Office, began in August of 2014 and concluded in July of this year.
“It takes time for an undercover officer to earn their trust and not be perceived as out of place,” Champagne said. “(The undercover officer) slowly has to work their way in.
“It’s a way of keeping (drug dealers) off balance and making them wonder if, ‘maybe I might be selling to an undercover officer.’”
Ten of the suspects arrested are residents of Luling; seven are from Boutte; eight from St. Rose; three from Killona; three from Hahnville; and one each from Montz, New Sarpy, Destrehan, Avondale and LaPlace.
“Much of the property crimes in St. Charles Parish are linked to the drug trade,” Champagne said. “Taking these drug offenders off the streets is helpful in curbing crime.”Though the undercover operation has concluded, police are still tracking down a number of additional suspects who have not yet been apprehended, but are subjects of active warrants.
“Unfortunately, we usually don’t get everyone immediately,” Champagne said. “But we will get them all shortly. “The sheriff said the operation should have an immediate effect on the quality of life for those living in the neighborhoods those dealers inhabited.
“It’s not just the drug deals, but burglary, theft … you talk about the bigger fish up the food chain, but these are the guys causing problems in those neighborhoods every day,” Champagne said. “By taking them off the street, it improves things immediately.”
Champagne expressed appreciation for those who came forward with helpful information over the past year, crediting those citizens with aiding the operation.
“For those people who tipped us, they made a difference,” Champagne said. “Sometimes, it takes a little time to handle the matter, but we do act on those tips and it’s a big help to us.”
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