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A raid on a Gibson property familiar to local authorities resulted in the seizure of guns, drugs and dogs yesterday.
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics culminated a four-month investigation by moving on a property on North Bayou Black Drive, where more than $200,000 worth of a variety of narcotics, 28 firearms, 20 dogs believed to be part of a dogfighting ring and more than $6,000 in cash and counterfeit bills were recovered. Seven local, state and federal agencies, including the Houma Police Department, Louisiana State Police and United States Department of Homeland Security, assisted the TPSO in the raid.
Officers arrested Terrance Ruffin, 25, 5248 North Bayou Black Drive, Kendrick Ruffin, 26, 5252 North Bayou Black Drive, and Lamaris Ruffin, 17, 5248 North Bayou Black Drive during the search. All three have been charged with possession or marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of liquid codeine with intent to distribute, illegal possession of firearms while in possession of illegal narcotics, dog fighting as well as other charges for each individual.
The names and address ring a bell for the TPSO, as authorities recovered drugs, guns and dogs in a 2013 raid. Maj. Terry Daigle, head of the TPSO narcotics division, said both Kendrick and Terrance Ruffin were arrested in the 2013 seizure and convicted but had since been released. Sheriff Larpenter and Daigle said additional investigations and arrests could come from yesterday’s operation.
Officers from the different agencies swept five different structures on the large tract of land on Bayou Black during yesterday’s search. The painstaking process took all day, according to Larpenter, and without the aid of police canines to sniff out the drugs, officers searched through woods and brush for hidden drugs on foot.
Larpenter said he was thankful yesterday’s operation, which included entry into properties with numerous loaded rifles and assault rifles, resulted in no injuries for both the authorities and suspects. He credited the officers’ work under extreme duress while executing the search warrant. Daigle said the cooperation of fellow agencies, and the expertise within them, allowed for a safe and effective search.
“I credit that to the tactical abilities and the overwhelming show of force when we do something like this,” Daigle said. “That’s why there’s so many agencies involved in it, so much manpower, so many resources. The overwhelming show of force makes it to where people don’t want to resist.”
Larpenter highlighted that cooperation as the benefit of fostering strong relationships between the different law enforcement entities.
“When we make that call, there’s no hesitation. They’re coming. That’s the excellent rapport we have with local, state and federal agencies. You don’t see that in too many places,” Larpenter said.
Larpenter said the drugs seized in Gibson did not originate in Terrebonne but instead come from Mexico, which he said is the origin of most narcotics in the United States. He hoped yesterday’s arrests would put a dent in the local drug trade, although he worried others could step into the new gap in the market. As far as the familiar faces, Larpenter said he hopes they are not back on the street selling their wares anytime soon.
“Hopefully this time they get serious time,” Larpenter said.
Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics agents Joe Crappelle and Scott Robinson examine the haul from yesterday’s raid of a Gibson property.
