Drug busts nab 2 PA men: Narcotics Unit cleaning up city with extra manpower
Published 1:55 pm Thursday, May 9, 2019
- Items confiscated when officers executed a search warrant at a home in the 1200 block of 19th Street. (Special to The News)
Progress is being made in taking illegal drugs and guns off Port Arthur streets.
Two men have been arrested in two unrelated drug busts within a week of each other that can likely be attributed to an increase in manpower within Port Arthur Police Department’s Narcotics Unit and the partnership forged between that department and other agencies. PAPD Chief Tim Duriso — who spent most of his career with the Drug Enforcement Administration, made it a primary goal to form state and federal partnerships when he came aboard last September.
The first of the recent busts happened April 26, when PAPD’s Narcotics Unit, SWAT and special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Unit executed a search warrant in the 3500 block of Thomas Boulevard for the discovery of cocaine. The property was searched and cocaine, marijuana and a firearm were confiscated. A man, whose name has not been released, was arrested at the scene. Charges are pending on another individual.
PAPD Det. Mike Hebert said the man was charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana and he was in possession of a firearm. ATF is reviewing the arrest for possible federal prosecution.
Just one week later in the 1200 block of 19th Street, the same agencies executed a search warrant. Several people were detained and one person was arrested for possession of cocaine.
The person also had a large sum of money and a firearm. The DEA is reviewing the case for possible federal prosecution.
Hebert said it is important for the public to understand that narcotics operations can take time to investigate.
“We know it can be frustrating for the residents of those neighborhoods but they (officers) are out there doing their due diligence,” Hebert said.
There also has been an uptick in patrol officers making narcotics cases in the city.
Hebert attributes this to Duriso’s leadership and the confidence that the rank and file have in him, saying Duriso made it a priority to bolster the narcotics unit staffing. Prior to Duriso’s arrival a number of officers retired or quit.
Illegal drug activity has been a longstanding issue in Port Arthur and police have received calls from concerned citizens in many city neighborhoods.
