73-year-old Oklahoma man arrested with 90 pounds of marijuana near Airbase Road

Rapides Parish, La. (11/16/2022) – On the evening of November 15^th, 2022, a Woodworth Police Department K-9 unit currently assigned to the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit working Highway Interdiction, conducted a traffic stop on a Nissan Altima for a minor traffic offense on I-49 South near Airbase Road.

Contact was made with the driver, and registered owner of the vehicle, later identified as Thomas Huynh.  During the officer’s interview, a strong odor of marijuana was detected.  Huynh gave verbal consent for the officer to search his vehicle’s interior and trunk space. During the search, officers located approximately 90 pounds of high-grade marijuana vacuum sealed in the car’s trunk.  

Huynh was taken into custody and placed under arrest without incident.  A RADE Agent responded to the scene to conduct their investigation. Through their investigation and interview of the suspect, Huynh admitted to being hired to transport the marijuana from Oklahoma to New Orleans, LA.  

Thomas Huynh was transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center and booked for improper lane use and possession of CDS 1 (marijuana) > 2.5 lbs.  Huynh was released on November 16^th, 2022, on a $50,100.00 bond.

RADE Agents say this is still an active and ongoing investigation involving other law enforcement agencies.

The Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit is a multi-jurisdictional team comprised of the Alexandria Police Department, Ball Police Department, Boyce Police Department, Cheneyville Police Department, Forest Hill Police Department, Glenmora Police Department, Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office Lecompte Police Department, McNary Police Department, Pineville Police Department, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Woodworth Police Department, Grant Parish District Attorney’s Office and the Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office.

The RADE Unit continues targeting individuals suspected of trafficking narcotics in Central Louisiana.  If you have information or want to report any narcotics activity, you may send direct messages to the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RADEunit/.

Arrestee:            
Thomas Huynh, 73
El Reno, OK

Charges:             
Improper Lane Usage
Possession CDS I (marijuana) > 2.5 lbs.