Zachary elected officials at the Sept. 24 City Council meeting with Tonja Myles, center, an advocate who spoke about National Recovery Month. From left are Councilman John LeBlanc, Police Chief Darryl Lawrence, Councilwoman Ambre DeVirgilio, Myles, Councilwoman Jennifer Boyd, Mayor David McDavid and Councilman James Graves.
Zachary police officers recently made what they say is the biggest drug bust in the city's history, arresting a man on several narcotics-related counts and seizing a large amount of contraband.
The City Council recognized the accomplishment at its Sept. 24 meeting.
According to a news release posted on the Police Department's Facebook page, officers arrested Dylan Raborn, 31, on Sept. 6 "after a lengthy investigation" that culminated in a search of a home in the 5700 block of Fairway Drive.
Raborn faces 10 counts of possession with intent to distribute Schedule I drugs, two counts of possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs and one count each of operating a hallucinogenic mushroom lab, operating a clandestine lab, possession of drug paraphernalia and transactions involving drug proceeds.
Among other items, officers seized more than $1,600 in cash, hallucinogenic mushrooms and growing kits, THC pens, THC wax, Adderall pills, unidentified pills, methamphetamines, marijuana and heroin.
A group of officers attended the council meeting, where city leaders congratulated them on making history and thanked them for helping keep Zachary safe.
"Job well done," said Police Chief Darryl Lawrence.
"I want to thank y'all so much for y'all's efforts to get these drugs off the streets," said Councilman John LeBlanc. "I know this didn't just affect Zachary's streets. It affected other cities around here and probably out of the state."
Tonja Myles, a local advocate for mental health and addiction recovery, applauded the work.
"You didn't just do a drug bust," she said. "You saved lives. ... You gave somebody another chance to live, to know recovery is real." Myles also spoke to the council about National Recovery Month, which is observed nationwide each September.