LAPLACE — More than a half-dozen area residents have been arrested in the last two weeks, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office authorities reported this morning, following the recovery of approximately 100,000 Xanax pills in LaPlace.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics detectives received information and conducted an investigation that led to the execution of two judicial court authorized search warrants Jan. 5.

The first search warrant was executed at 1:16 p.m. at a residence in the 100 block of Oak Fern Court in LaPlace. Detectives recovered approximately 100,000 pills of alprazolam, the trade name Xanax, and packaging for distribution throughout the United States.

Detectives arrested Matthew Helms, 23, and Megan De St. Germaine, 26. Helms and De St. Germaine, who live at the residence, were home when detectives executed the search warrant.

The second search warrant was executed at 1:52 p.m. at a residence in the 500 block of Walnut Street in LaPlace. Detectives recovered more than 10,400 doses of alprazplam and packaging for distribution.

Detectives arrested Brandon Zar, 24. Zar, who lives at the residence, was home when detectives executed the search warrant.

Based on the development of the investigation, detectives obtained judicial court ordered arrest warrants for six suspects for attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS.

Detectives booked Matthew Helms with possession with intent to distribute alprazolam, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of suboxone and possession of marijuana.

He remains in custody in lieu of a $311,500 bond. Helms was arrested six times in St. John the Baptist Parish since April 2012.

Detectives booked Megan De St. Germaine with possession with intent to distribute alprazolam, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of suboxone and possession of marijuana. She remains in custody in lieu of an $83,000 bond.

Detectives booked Brandon Zar with possession with intent to distribute alprazolam and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from jail Jan. 13 on a $51,500 bond. Zar was arrested five times in St. John the Baptist Parish since November 2010.

Detectives booked Austin Hammond, 20, of LaPlace with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from jail Jan. 15 on a $53,000 bond.

Detectives booked Courtney Simon, 20, of LaPlace with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS. She was released from jail Jan. 13 on a $50,000 bond.

Detectives booked Joshua Sutton, 23, of LaPlace with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS. He remains in custody in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

Detectives booked Katie Cahill, 22, of LaPlace with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS. She was released from jail Jan. 13 on a $50,000 bond.

Detectives booked Michael Keller, 20, of St. James with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS. He was released from jail Jan. 13 on a $50,000 bond.

Detectives booked Pamela De St. Germaine, 51, of LaPlace with attempt or conspire to distribute or possess with intent to distribute schedule IV CDS. She was released from jail Jan. 13 on a $10,000 bond.