OPELOUSAS, La. (
KLFY) — A Ville Platte man is charged with possession of a synthetic opioid that many may not have heard of, authorities said.
Christopher Mallet, 38, of Ville Platte, is charged with possession with intent to distribute Tapentadol, a Schedule II narcotic.
Tapentadol, sold under the brand names Nucynta and Palexia among others, is a prescription painkiller that is highly addictive.
St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives searched a house Wednesday in the 400 block of Church Street in Opelousas, on a warrant specifically looking for Tapentadol, which mirrors the effects of Oxycodone, according to Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.
“This is a drug relatively new to this area, but our Narcotics Detectives have made themselves familiar with it and are wasting no time to track, seize and arrest anyone attempting to distribute in our parish,” Guidroz said.
Officials said the search yielded 750 tablets of the drug, which were ordered by Mallet.
He was booked into the St. Landry Parish jail. Bond details were not released.
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