{"id":6399,"date":"2026-08-12T07:36:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T07:36:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6399"},"modified":"2026-08-12T07:36:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T07:36:55","slug":"russian-national-arrested-with-nearly-800-pounds-of-meth-in-one-of-the-largest-busts-in-louisiana-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6399","title":{"rendered":"Russian national arrested with nearly 800 pounds of meth in ‘one of the largest’ busts in Louisiana history"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

A Russian national was busted hauling nearly 800 pounds of methamphetamine on a Louisiana interstate, which officials touted as \u201cone of the largest\u201d seizures in the state\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018Traumatized\u2019 NYC couple finds stranger lounging in apartment, claims doorman gave intruder keys<\/a><\/p>\n

Anton Vitalyevich Rakov was pulled over for a traffic stop in his 18-wheeler on I-12 in Denham Springs \u2014 about 20 miles outside Baton Rouge \u2014 on Tuesday, the Livingston Parish Sheriff\u2019s Office said on Facebook.<\/p>\n

Rakov, whom officials described as a \u201cdeportable Russian national,\u201d was arrested over his illegal status in the US, which led officials to search the semi-truck\u2019s trailer and discover \u201capproximately 358.14 kilos (789.56 lbs) of methamphetamine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the LARGEST Methamphetamine Seizures in Livingston Parish (And, Louisiana),\u201d Sheriff Jason Ard said.<\/p>\n

Rakov was handed over to ICE and remains in custody, the sheriff\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n

Authorities have not disclosed what initially prompted the traffic stop.<\/p>\n

The Post has reached out to the department for further details.<\/p>\n

Staggering photos released by the department illustrate the scale of the seizure, showing the large quantity of methamphetamine allegedly found in Rakov\u2019s truck.<\/p>\n

An investigator can be seen on scaffolding inspecting the roof of the semi-truck, with massive tinfoil-wrapped bricks containing the meth spread out on folding tables.<\/p>\n

Another photo shows more of the packaged product in at least five large container bins alongside the deputy and K9 that made the bust.<\/p>\n

Read more MyPillow founder Mike Lindell\u2019s political dreams put to bed by Minnesota voters<\/a><\/p>\n

A third photo shows Sheriff Ard standing next to a waist-high pyramid of tinfoil-wrapped bricks containing the meth.<\/p>\n

While authorities stopped short of declaring it the largest meth seizure in state history, the bust far exceeds recent high-profile seizures.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

In February, the Livingston Parish Sheriff\u2019s Office seized about 361 pounds of methamphetamine, valued at nearly $4 million, during a traffic stop, according to the Justice Department.<\/p>\n

The suspects \u2014 Jostin Antonio Orellana-Romero, 22, a Honduran national, and Edenilson Alexander Castaneda-Del Valle, 18, a Salvadoran national \u2014 were both in the country illegally at the time of their arrest. Both men face a minimum of ten years and up to\u00a0life in prison.<\/p>\n

In March, a drug task force comprised of the DEA, FBI and Louisiana State Police seized approximately 325 pounds of narcotics hidden inside welded metal boxes concealed within ice cream freezers aboard an 18-wheeler, according to the Justice Department.<\/p>\n

The suspects operating the truck, Ranulfo Garcia Rodriguez and Christian Antonio Sanchez Ramirez, were identified as Mexican nationals and arrested. Both men are also facing ten years to life in federal prison.<\/p>\n

Read more Walz Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota Democratic Senate primary in latest battle between leftists and centrist candidates<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Russian national Anton Rakov was arrested in Louisiana after deputies seized nearly 800 pounds of meth, one of the largest busts in state history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6398,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6399","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-us-news"],"yoast_head":"\nRussian national arrested with nearly 800 pounds of meth in 'one of the largest' busts in Louisiana history - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=6399\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Russian national arrested with nearly 800 pounds of meth in 'one of the largest' busts in Louisiana history - 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