A routine traffic stop on Interstate 12 in Livingston Parish led to what officials now call the largest drug seizure in the sheriff’s office’s history. Deputies say they uncovered more than 361 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside a vehicle.
Federal prosecutors later announced indictments against two foreign nationals accused of possessing the drugs with intent to distribute. US Attorney Kurt Wall said the operation reflects cartel activity, warning that large scale trafficking networks continue moving product through Louisiana highways.
According to deputies, the stop occurred on Feb. 7 along Interstate 12 in Livingston Parish. During the vehicle search, investigators uncovered a hidden compartment. Inside that space, they found digital scales, rubber bands, plastic baggies, about $7,100 in cash, and a significant amount of methamphetamine.
The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed the total seizure exceeded 361 pounds of a mixture containing methamphetamine. Officials valued the drugs at approximately $4 million. The department described the case as the largest narcotics seizure it has handled.
US Attorney Kurt Wall said the evidence indicates cartel connections tied to the shipment. He stressed that it was not minor street-level dealing. Investigators believe the drugs were being transported through Louisiana within a wider trafficking network.
The Department of Justice announced that Jostin Antonio Orellana Romero, 22, of Honduras, and Edenilson Alexander Castaneda Del Valle, 18, of El Salvador, were indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Each now faces serious federal prosecution in Louisiana.
If convicted, officials say both men face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, fines of up to $10 million, and potential deportation. Prosecutors argue the weight of the seized drugs supports claims of organized distribution rather than isolated conduct.
Federal officials emphasized that the charges reflect what they describe as an organized and coordinated supply chain rather than a one-time incident. Prosecutors say the case demonstrates how interstate trafficking networks rely on structure and planning.
Livingston Parish Sheriff’s officials believe this case makes clear that major highways continue to function as critical drug corridors. When deputies seize shipments of this magnitude, they are doing more than taking someone into custody. They are disrupting a larger supply network in motion.
Local leaders in law enforcement frequently note that handling cases of this size takes real coordination. Deputies must work alongside federal agents and prosecutors. When hundreds of pounds are involved, it means careful evidence collection, forensic review, and investigations that extend far beyond one stop.
Officials also say operations like this send a warning to trafficking groups observing patterns. By acting swiftly and building federal cases, agencies aim to prevent future shipments and demonstrate that Louisiana is an engaged enforcement state, not an open or unguarded route.
Big interstate drug cases tend to stir up debate about whether long federal sentences really slow trafficking or just push it somewhere else. Some community leaders say prevention and treatment should get equal attention, while prosecutors keep insisting that accountability still matters for public safety.
Law enforcement leaders explain that cases like this make agencies rethink how traffickers use Louisiana’s roads. When shipments grow this large, it suggests planning and confidence from criminal networks.