Russian national apprehended with nearly 800 pounds of meth in ‘one of the largest’ busts in Louisiana history

A Russian national was apprehended on a Louisiana highway with roughly 800 pounds of methamphetamine, in what officials described as “one of the largest” captures in the state’s history.

Anton Vitalyevich Rakov was stopped on I-12 in Denham Springs, roughly 20 miles outside Baton Rouge, on Tuesday, according to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office on Facebook.

Rakov, whom officials described as a “deportable Russian national,” was arrested due to his unlawful status in the US, prompting investigators to search the semi-truck’s trailer and locate “approximately 358.14 kilos (789.56 lbs) of methamphetamine.”

“One of the LARGEST methamphetamine seizures in Livingston Parish (and, Louisiana),” Sheriff Jason Ard stated.

Rakov was handed over to ICE and is still in detention, according to the sheriff’s office.

Authorities have not said what caused the traffic stop.

An investigator can be seen on scaffolding checking the semi-truck’s roof, while large tinfoil-wrapped bricks carrying meth are spread out on folding tables.

While authorities did not declare it the largest meth seizure in state history, the bust significantly outweighed other high-profile seizures.

During a traffic stop in February, the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office seized around 361 pounds of methamphetamine, worth nearly $4 million, according to the Justice Department.

The accused, Jostin Antonio Orellana-Romero, 22, a Honduran national, and Edenilson Alexander Castaneda-Del Valle, 18, a Salvadoran national, were both in the country unlawfully at the time of their arrest. Both men face a minimum sentence of ten years and up to life in jail.

According to the Justice Department, in March, a drug task force made up of the DEA, FBI, and Louisiana State Police recovered around 325 pounds of narcotics disguised within welded metal boxes concealed within ice cream freezers aboard an 18-wheeler.

The suspects driving the truck, Ranulfo Garcia Rodriguez and Christian Antonio Sanchez Ramirez, were identified as Mexican nationals and arrested. Both guys face ten years to life in federal prison.