Tyrin Truong, the mayor of Bogalusa, Louisiana, and several other people have been arrested as part of a drug-trafficking investigation.
The Louisiana State Police Narcotics/Violent Crime Task Force uncovered an organization selling opioids, marijuana, THC products and MDMA (also known as Ecstasy) through social media and using the profits from those sales to purchase firearms, some of which were used in other crimes, police said in a news release Tuesday.
Seven arrest warrants were issued, including one for Truong, 25. He faces charges of transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, unauthorized use of a movable and soliciting for prostitutes.
Truong was booked Tuesday morning and his bond has not been set, according to NOLA.com.
The others have also been charged with transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses. Three were additionally charged with conspiracy to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance and another with distribution of a Schedule II controlled substance.
“A variety of other matters and individuals remain under investigation in connection with matters both separate from and related to the subject matter of today’s arrests,” the state police said.
“We are going to continue to invest time and resources into helping the citizens of Bogalusa,” District Attorney Collin Sims said in a statement. “We are not finished.”
Bogalusa, a city of roughly 12,000 in Washington Parrish, is about 70 miles north of New Orleans.
Truong was elected in 2022, touting his degree from Washington University and experience as an intern for former Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.).