COVINGTON, La. (WGNO) – At a press conference Monday morning, the Saint Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office revealed that a sophisticated heroin operation in the north shore area had been disrupted. They arrested 15 people, with the help of other federal and local law enforcement agencies. This investigation began a year and half ago, after people called police saying Scottie Fisher of Amite was dealing some sort of drug in West Tammany. Investigators say they later discovered Fisher was much more than a user or small-time distributor. He was the leader of a heroin operation that went throughout the north shore and stretched to Orleans Parish. They estimate he distributed about a kilo a month, a fairly significant amount.
The district =attorny’s office says no official charges have been filed yet since the Sheriff’s Office just handed over the case information to them, but those involved could face charges for conspiring to distribute drugs, actual distribution and racketeering. Some of those penalties carry sentences of up to 50 years in prison. Saint Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain told us that this was a big victory for local law enforcement, but the fight is obviously not over yet. They will continue to aggressively investigate, but he says it’s important for people to talk with loved ones about drugs, as well.
They are still searching for seven people related to this operation but say this investigation and others are ongoing.
