Monday’s arrests of 23 people allegedly involved in cocaine distribution in and around Bogalusa came after a three-year, multi-agency investigation, and it highlighted the importance of law enforcement agencies working together.

This week’s operation involved the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office and Bogalusa Police Department as well as the Louisiana State Police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration U.S. Customs Border Protection Marine and Air Branch, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Louisiana National Guard Counterdrug Aviation Unit. They executed search warrants at three Bogalusa addresses and recovered various amounts of drugs, weapons and drug paraphernalia, in addition to making arrests on state and federal charges.

The Washington Parish Drug Task Force, comprised of Sheriff’s Office detectives and officers from the Bogalusa and Franklinton police departments, has worked diligently to combat the drug trade in the parish.

By combining resources with the DEA, the State Police and other agencies, the fight against drugs in the parish has expanded to a new level.

Sheriff Randy Seal said the State Police and DEA have been generous in funneling their resources and manpower into the parish to help fight the drug dealers. He said this lengthy investigation would not have been possible without the help provided by those agencies, and those partnerships will continue.

Undoubtedly, those arrested Monday will be replaced by others, and drugs will continue to be a problem that has plagued Washington Parish for many years.

But because of the partnerships forged on the local, state and federal levels, we hope undercover operations and investigations like this one will continue and more arrests will be forthcoming.

Our congratulations to the WPSO and BPD on a job well done on this investigation.