Eleven Pounds of Fentanyl Located During Slidell-area Traffic Stop - Street Value of $388,000

Detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Narcotics Division located 11 pounds of fentanyl during a traffic stop on Saturday (September 28, 2024) and arrested four men, whom detectives learned were traveling from Florida to Louisiana with the fentanyl.  The illegal drugs had an estimated street value of approximately $388,000.

Detectives with the STPSO Narcotics Unit and Proactive Enforcement Unit conducted traffic stops on two Florida registered vehicles as they were traveling westbound on Interstate 12 near Slidell. With the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations and a United States Border Patrol drug detection K-9, detectives searched both vehicles. They located and seized 5 kilograms (11 pounds) of fentanyl hidden within secret compartments inside one of the vehicles.

Arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Facility were

• Mervin Cruz of Saint Cloud, Fla.: Charges of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Fentanyl), Possession of Schedule I CDS (Marijuana), and Improper Lane Use.

• Alexis Cintron of Davenport, Fla.: Charges of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Fentanyl) and Littering.

• Shaquan Stridiron of Orlando, Fla.: Charge of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Fentanyl)

• Yoscari Lizardo of Kissimmee, Fla.: Charges of Possession with the Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (Fentanyl and Turn Signal required.

Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “This was a very large bust and I am proud of the work the detectives with our Narcotics Division do every day, working with Homeland Security and the Border Patrol to identify and arrest those individuals who are bringing it into our community.”