By JERRY LEPRE-Managing Editor

LAPLACE – Operation “Deep Cover,” an undercover investigation conducted by the St. John Bureau of Narcotics, has resulted in 75 felony arrests and seizure of more than $140,000 of illegal drugs to date.

As a result of this successful investigation and others conducted in the past by the drug unit, narcotic arrests have exceeded 1,100 during the seven year period of July 1996 to July of 2003. During this stretch, the Bureau of Narcotics reported that more than $2 million dollars of narcotics were seized by local authorities along with currency totalling $337,000, 40 vehicles and 50 firearms.

“I am extremely proud of my team of investigators and deputies who, with the help of concerned residents, were able to make our neighborhoods safer by putting these criminals behind bars,” Wayne L. Jones, the Sheriff of St. John the Baptist Parish, said. “It all comes down to team work and leadership.”

According to Lt. Octavio R. Gonzalez, the Commander of Narcotics, the six-month investigation, which began in January, targeted drug dealers within the high crime areas throughout the parish.

“The mission of this operation was to investigate upper, mid and lower dealers involved in the illegal sales of crack cocaine, cocaine and marijuana within the Edgard, LaPlace, Reserve, Garyville and Mt. Airy areas of the parish,” Gonzalez said.

The Bureau of Narcotics reported the list of drugs confiscated in the numerous police raids included crack cocaine, cocaine, marijuana, ecstacy, meth and pharmaceutical drugs.

“I plan to continue my department’s effort to rid our streets of illegal drugs,” Jones said. “We have accomplished a lot in the past seven years. But I have more work to do to make sure that our community continues to be a safe place for our children.”

Despite the conclusion of this phase of the operation, the Bureau of Narcotics is actively tracking approximately20 individuals connected with the investigation, Gonzalez said.