A joint operation between the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Opelousas Police Department has resulted in what some have called “the biggest drug bust in this area in recent memory.”

Information collected from street-level dealers by the Opelousas Police Department led to the investigation which resulted in the arrest of a major supplier in the area.

Jarvis J. Tyler, 22, of the 100 block of Navaho Lane, Opelousas is being held in the parish jail today on a $122,000 bond. He is charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute Schedule I narcotics - in this case marijuana and PCP.

PCP is a drug that isn’t commonly found in South Louisiana. When added to marijuana cigarettes, it can intensify the effects and lead to psychotic behavior.

Other charges are pending as Tyler was also arrested with large quantities of cocaine, a Ruger .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a digital scale, and numerous plastic bags that are used to hold the drugs.

“This is huge,” said St. Landry Sheriff Bobby Guidroz of the arrest that netted 50 pounds of marijuana, more than a kilo of cocaine, and a bottle of PCP.

“He is not a small time individual, he was distributing drugs in Melville, Port Barre. City limits are no barrier and it doesn’t stop here,” Guidroz said of Tyler.

“This is a tribute to both departments,” said Opelousas Police Chief Perry Gallow. “This is obviously not our first joint investigation and it won’t be the last.”