A long-term investigation into drug trafficking and distribution in Louisiana has led to the indictment of 13 individuals on federal narcotics charges and the arrest of 27 individuals on state drug charges. The results of what was dubbed Operation Hustle City were announced on Oct. 8 by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana. The operation was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration and involved several state and local law enforcement agencies, according to media reports.
Drugs, guns, cash and vehicles seized
Investigators attached to the DEA’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force launched Operation Hustle City in 2016. Evidence gathered by using wiretaps is said to have led investigators to several homes and storage facilities in the Bossier City and Shreveport areas where significant quantities of methamphetamine, crack cocaine and marijuana were discovered. Agents are also said to have seized guns, cash and vehicles.
Four suspects still at large
The suspects taken into custody during the drug sweep face charges that include conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs, narcotics possession with the intent to distribute, distributing marijuana and distributing methamphetamine. Four of the individuals indicted on federal charges are still at large. Authorities are searching for a 39-year-old man, 34-year-old man, 31-year-old man and 25-year-old man. They are all Shreveport residents. Officials say that they should be considered armed and dangerous, and police have advised people who see them to contact law enforcement rather than approaching them.
Wiretap evidence
The rules dealing with law enforcement wiretaps are strict, and applications to monitor electronic communications must be supported by statements of facts that indicate all other means of securing the desired evidence have been exhausted. When reviews of these documents suggest that federal agents or state or local police officers may have failed to meet the standards required, experienced criminal defense attorneys could seek to have narcotics charges based on wiretap evidence dismissed.
