During a press conference yesterday, the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Unit (RADE) displayed a significant seizure of illegal narcotics and drug manufacturing supplies, highlighting a major bust valued between 1.4 and 1.5-million-dollars. Major Tommy Carline says over the past few months the RADE Unit conducted an investigation of a major narcotics trafficker, 31-year old Dequavious Wagner.
“All of their investigation culminated Tuesday evening, which began with a traffic stop on Mr. Wagner and resulted in his subsequent arrest.”
Carline says the confiscated items included 65 pounds of powder cocaine, 96 pounds of methamphetamine, 6 pounds of fentanyl, 1.2 pounds of heroin, 1.3 pounds of synthetic marijuana, 252 grams of marijuana, and 87 grams of crack cocaine.
“Another thing that sttod out in this arrest was 160 bottles of promethazine. That calculates out to about 20 gallons. The Wagner suspect also had a hand gun.”
The arrest served as a stark reminder of the scale and reach of drug trafficking operations in central Louisiana. It demonstrated RADE’s ongoing efforts to combat the local drug epidemic and keep dangerous substances off the streets.
“This was a major, major blow to the narcotics trafficking in Rapids Parish. Our District Attorney, Phillip Terrell, is looking very forward to prosecuting this gentleman.
Carline says the investigation is ongoing and additional suspects have been identified, and more arrest are probable.
