Bogalusa Mayor Tyrin Truong, 25, was arrested Tuesday as part of a drug trafficking investigation led by the Louisiana State Police Narcotics/Violent Crime Task Force.
The investigation, which began in April 2024, targeted a drug trafficking organization accused of distributing various substances and laundering money through the purchase of firearms, some of which were linked to violent crimes in the area.
Truong, who made history in 2022 as Bogalusa’s youngest mayor after defeating incumbent Wendy Perrette, faces multiple charges, including transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, unauthorized use of a moveable, and soliciting for prostitutes.
The broader operation resulted in seven arrest warrants and exposed the organization’s use of social media for drug distribution and payment management.
The task force uncovered that the organization trafficked opioids, high-grade marijuana, THC products, and MDMA. The profits from these illegal sales were used to purchase firearms, some of which were transferred to individuals prohibited from owning them. Authorities reported that these weapons had been tied to violent crimes in Bogalusa and surrounding areas.
Truong was booked into the Washington Parish Jail on Tuesday, according to online records. The Louisiana State Police stated that additional details about the case would be released as the investigation continues, with more individuals potentially implicated.
Bogalusa is a city already grappling with high crime rates and the fallout from Louisiana’s growing drug epidemic. In 2023 alone, the state recorded 2,456 drug-related deaths.
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