Sims’ ‘Opioid Initiative’ having major impact
By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
COVINGTON – An initiative started in July of 2024 to combat the drug problem in St. Tammany Parish has reaped big rewards, with more results expected to show, said District Attorney Collin Sims at a press conference he headed last week.
Sims stood on the steps of the Justice Center, surrounded by almost 20 law enforcement partners from the Southeast Louisiana region. The group represented 14 different agencies that have been working together to rein in the drug problem that exploded with the influx of fentanyl from the previously wide-open southern border.
Since last year, the D.A.’s Office laid a strong foundation for the Opioid Initiative, a comprehensive effort aimed at combating the opioid epidemic through law enforcement collaboration and intelligence-sharing. What began as a small team consisting of an investigator with the District Attorney’s Office and two narcotics detectives in Slidell has rapidly expanded into a powerful coalition of agencies working together to dismantle drug networks and prevent overdose deaths.
“We knew from the beginning that addressing the opioid crisis would require a unified approach,” Sims stated. “Today, we stand alongside multiple local, state, and federal partners, all committed to making our communities safer.”
Not only have the agencies been working together and crossing jurisdictional boundaries that used to keep them from helping each other, but Sims is now taking advantage of a recently passed law that allows a drug dealer to be charged with murder if the individual sells drugs to someone who dies of an overdose.
Sims said the 22nd Judicial Office now has 12 suspects currently awaiting trial after being charged with murder for drug-related deaths, including other cases that will be added to them.
“Dealers don’t know borders, so we decided we have to work across the normal borders that separated us,” Sims said. “We are going after the drug traffickers wherever they are, regardless of jurisdiction.”
Sims said he decided to pursue the framework of assistance that led to the Opioid Initiative after his office dealt with a Slidell case involving a wheelchair bound person who was buying drugs but then overdosed.
“A lot of the smaller agencies, such as Washington Parish that has a big drug problem but limited resources, need the assistance of big agencies such as DEA or bigger police departments,” Sims remarked. “Fentanyl began pushing this, and even though I think the new border policy that is now stronger will slow the influx of fentanyl, there is still a lot out there.”
The Opioid Initiative now includes: DEA FORT (Fentanyl Overdose Response Team), HSI (Homeland Security Investigations), Slidell Police Department, Covington Police Department, Pearl River Police Department, Mandeville Police Department, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana State Police Region One Narcotics Task Force, New Orleans Police Department’s Newly Formed Intelligence Group, and the St. Tammany and Washington Parishes District Attorney’s Offices.
“The DEA‘s Fentanyl Overdose Response Team is committed to providing unwavering support to our partners and working tirelessly to bring justice for the victims of this devastating epidemic,” said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul Seale. “It’s through these collaborative efforts – leveraging the resources of multiple agencies – that we are seeing real progress on the Northshore and beyond.
Since October 2024, the initiative has yielded significant results, including 313,000 fentanyl pills seized in and around the St. Tammany area, along with over $125,000 in cash, 65 firearms, 3 kilograms of cocaine, and various other illegal drugs.
Additionally, the initiative has played a critical role in the prosecution of overdose-related cases.
In December of 2024, a St. Tammany jury returned a conviction for 2nd Degree murder in the overdose death of a Covington High School student. In January of 2025, a St. Tammany Parish Grand Jury returned an indictment of two individuals for the charge of Possession with the Intent to Distribute 250 grams or more of Fentanyl. If convicted, these individuals face a sentence of up to life in prison.
On March 18, 2025, the District Attorney’s Office secured an indictment of Dayon Dyson for 2nd Degree murder in the overdose death of Washington Parish School Board member, Frankie Crosby.
Sims’ 22nd District Court has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for opioid distribution related crimes. Drug dealers whose distribution results in fatal overdoses will face second-degree murder charges, as outlined in Louisiana law.
“We will not tolerate those who profit from the suffering of others,” stated Sims. “If you distribute these deadly substances and someone dies as a result, we will pursue charges for second-degree murder.”
Slidell Police Chief Randy Fandal said his officers are now seeing new and more powerful drugs call Tapentadol and Xylazine, which is a horse tranquilizer.
“Xylazine is a drug that, when you shoot up, actually eats away your flesh,” Fandal said. “It’s really horrible and we have taken in drug addicts that our officers can hardly deal with because the skin on their arms is eaten away.”
“This is just the beginning,” said Sims. “We will continue to work aggressively, holding fentanyl traffickers accountable and seeking justice for families affected by this crisis.”