In a significant operation targeting drug trafficking in East Baton Rouge Parish, deputies arrested three individuals connected to the trafficking group “Play for Keeps.” Joshua Morris, 39; Jalen Chavis, 29; and Joshua Normand, 22; were taken into custody, while a warrant will be sought for Jarrett Edwards, 35.
After conducting surveillance, investigators identified Morris and Chavis as the leaders of the operation. Authorities were able to make several controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Morris. The group was using various residences on Laurel Street to facilitate their trafficking activities, prompting deputies to obtain search warrants for six locations.
On January 28, the following items were seized during the search:
10.5 grams of crack cocaine
34 dosage units of pressed fentanyl (34 lethal doses)
10.2 ounces of marijuana
10.5 ounces of promethazine
1 dosage unit of 30mg amphetamine
11 dosage units of Lortab
13 dosage units of Oxycodone
$2,020 in currency (pending seizure)
Multiple digital scales
2 hand-operated pill presses (one with fentanyl residue)
5 Glock 9mm handguns
Ruger .380 handgun
Remington 12-gauge shotgun
Ruger 9mm handgun
2 Rossi .38 special revolvers
All suspects face multiple charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offenses, and the investigation continues.
