Feature Photograph: Joshua Allen Joseph, age 37 of 319 S. Oak Street, Opelousas, LA., 70570 was arrested.
CHARGES: Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS, Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule I CDS. 2 counts – Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. 2 counts – Illegal Carrying of a Firearm in the Presence of a CDS, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Illegal Possession of a Stolen Firearm. BOND: $56,000
According to Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, “The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Team (N.E.T) conducted a search warrant on the address of 319 South Oak Street in the Opelousas area. “The Narcotics Enforcement Team conducted numerous hours of surveillance and undercover drug buys of heroin and fentanyl. With the information gathered from the extensive surveillance hours, undercover drug buys and calls from concerned citizens, detectives were able to obtain a search warrant for the targeted address.”
Utilizing the St. Landry Parish S.W.A.T. Team, the search warrant was executed. Narcotics agents located and seized approximately 5 ounces of suspected heroin and fentanyl, two handguns, and drug paraphernalia used to package and weigh the illegal narcotics to conduct the sales at a later time.
On May 18, 2022, Joshua Joseph was arrested and booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail for possession with intent to distribute a schedule II controlled dangerous substance (fentanyl), possession with intent to distribute a schedule I controlled dangerous substance (marijuana), possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance (2 counts), possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (2 counts), possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.
Sheriff Guidroz stated, “The Narcotics Enforcement Team has conducted a search warrant on this same address in the year 2020 and Joshua Joseph was the target of the investigation. Mr. Joseph was arrested in 2020 for similar charges and was out on bond for the 2020 charges.”
Sheriff Guidroz would like to bring to the public’s attention the hazardous and catastrophic effects of the very powerful fentanyl drug.
- Fentanyl is 50 times stronger than heroin and 80-100 times stronger than morphine.
- 2 milligrams can be a deadly dose to a person
- 1 gram is equal to 1000 milligrams and can cause death to 500 people
- 55.6 % of drug overdoses are primarily due to fentanyl
The approximate amount of fentanyl Mr. Joseph had in his possession was enough to kill approximately 70,000 people.
Sheriff Guidroz would like to thank the concerned citizens of St. Landry Parish who have taken the time to call and give information regarding illegal drug activity and any other type of crime.
Anyone with information about illegal drug activity is encouraged to call the St. Landry Parish Sheriff Department’s Drug Hotline at 337- 948-1030. All callers remain anonymous and the information is kept strictly confidential.
On behalf of Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, this is Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
