Agents with the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit seized large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine and arrested an Alexandria man following a lengthy drug trafficking investigation.

Agents concluded a long-term investigation targeting Elijah Jermaine Jones, 34, of Alexandria. Investigators had obtained multiple arrest warrants following the investigation and later observed Jones traveling along Louisiana Highway 28 East near Deville, where a traffic stop was conducted. Jones was taken into custody without incident.

Jones was arrested on warrants for possession of CDS II (fentanyl) with intent to distribute, possession of CDS II (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute, and two counts of possession of CDS IV (generic Xanax and Soma) with intent to distribute.

As part of the investigation, RADE agents executed multiple search warrants in Rapides Parish. During those searches, agents located approximately 14 pounds of fentanyl, just under 4½ pounds of methamphetamine, and about 2 pounds of unknown blue pills. Authorities stated that additional felony charges are expected pending laboratory results identifying the pills.

Agents also seized more than $34,000 in assorted U.S. currency, which investigators believe was derived from alleged drug trafficking activity. Civil asset forfeiture paperwork was issued, and the currency was seized.

Jones was booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center, where he remains incarcerated on a $1 million bond. The investigation remains ongoing.

The Rapides Area Drug Enforcement Unit is a multi-jurisdictional task force comprised of local, state, and federal agencies throughout Central Louisiana. Authorities encourage anyone with information related to narcotics activity to contact the RADE Unit through its official Facebook page.

If you want this tightened into a brief crime blotter version or rewritten specifically for print vs. web, I can do that next.