A task force of law enforcement officials in Louisiana was able to confiscate thousands of pain pills after information was received about a huge shipment of the drug coming into New Orleans from a foreign source.
According to the Louisiana State Police, as their joint investigation proceeded, they discovered that many shipments were scheduled to come into the New Orleans area and to be delivered to multiple homes.
Investigators were able to determine that a postal worker, 46-year-old Bahiyyah Shabazz of Metairie, was being paid off to help with the drug transaction because he was getting paid off by 21-year-old Lerone Hines of New Orleans.
According to officials, the packages of Tapentadol were being sent via U.S. mail to various houses in the New Orleans area, and investigators were about to seize the packages.
Once they were made aware of the large purchases, they began investigating in November 2024 and started intercepting the packages then through January 2025.