On March 14th, 2024, Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Agents initiated an operation targeting Craig Deandre Brown, 27, of Alexandria, suspected of trafficking Fentanyl into the area from New Orleans.
Based on prior investigations, RADE Agents conducted surveillance and identified Brown’s vehicle and direction of travel. At approximately 8:30 PM, K-9 Deputies assigned to the RADE Highway Interdiction Team conducted a traffic stop on Brown’s vehicle on Interstate 49 (North Bound) near exit 63 for a traffic violation.
During the stop, deputies detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A narcotic detection K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics, leading to a search that uncovered a digital scale and other drug paraphernalia. Additionally, deputies found just over ¼ pound of Fentanyl concealed inside Brown’s pants, along with approximately $2,600.00 in cash suspected to be proceeds from drug trafficking. The value of the seized Fentanyl was estimated at $18,000.00.
Brown was arrested without incident and transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center, where he was booked for improper lane usage, no driver’s license on person, and possession of CDS II (Fentanyl) with intent to distribute. Due to previous narcotics violations and being out on bond, his bond was revoked by a judge, and he remains incarcerated with a bond set at $591,200.00.
The Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit, a multi-jurisdictional team, comprises several law enforcement agencies and continues to target individuals involved in narcotics trafficking in Central Louisiana.
If you have information regarding narcotics activity or would like to report any suspicious activity, you can reach out to the RADE Unit via direct messages on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RADEunit/.
The investigation into this case is ongoing, as stated by RADE Agents.
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A law enforcement-related agency has provided this information as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal “All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
