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Baton Rouge – Earlier today, Investigators with the Louisiana State Police Narcotics Unit, Louisiana State Police Troop A, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence on Broad Avenue in Baton Rouge, which resulted in the arrest of 24-year-old Matthew Barnes Jr. of Baton Rouge.

Over the past month, Investigators began investigating Barnes for distribution of heroin and fentanyl in East Baton Rouge Parish.  Based on information obtained from the investigation, Investigators were able to secure a search warrant for Barnes’ residence. As a result of the search warrant approximately $59,000 in U.S. currency, 86 grams of heroin, 512 grams of methamphetamine, 241 grams of marijuana, approximately 3 grams of cocaine, and two firearms were seized.  Barnes was not at the residence at the time the search warrant was executed.

Subsequent to the search of the residence, Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Barnes. With the assistance of the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Investigators located Barnes in Port Allen.

Barnes was arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for violating the following statues: LRS 40:966 Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, LRS 40:966 Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, LRS 40:967 Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, and LRS 40:1041 Transactions Involving Drug Proceeds.  26-year-old Raymond Barnes was also arrested for violating LRS 14:25 Accessory After the Fact and LRS 14:108 Resisting Arrest by Flight for his role in evading authorities.

Heroin is often times laced with Fentanyl. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine, but is 50 to 100 times more potent. Fentanyl is one of the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths in the United States.  One kilogram of fentanyl could result in the death of 500,000 people. Citizens who observe suspicious activity in our local communities and across our state can report suspicious activity anonymously through the Louisiana State Fusion Center at http://lsp.org/help.html.