K9 stop on Louisiana’s I-12 uncovers 358 kilos of meth in semi-trailer, driver now in ICE custody

Livingston Parish deputies stopped an 18-wheeler on Interstate 12 eastbound in Denham Springs, Louisiana. Their investigation uncovered nearly 800 pounds of methamphetamine inside the trailer. Authorities identified the driver as Anton Vitalyevich Rakov, a Russian national. Deputies took Rakov into custody because of his immigration status.

The Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that its K9 Division conducted the traffic stop. Narcotics investigators later searched the commercial trailer. They found approximately 358.14 kilograms, or 789.56 pounds, of methamphetamine. Officials have not disclosed what prompted the initial stop.

Investigators search the trailer of an 18-wheeler after Livingston Parish deputies stopped it on Interstate 12 in Denham Springs, Louisiana. (Photo: Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office)

Sheriff calls seizure among Louisiana’s largest

Sheriff Jason Ard described the discovery as “one of the LARGEST Methamphetamine Seizures in Livingston Parish (And, Louisiana).” The agency did not release an estimated street value. Its post also did not identify the trucking company or freight involved. Officials have not explained how investigators concealed the drugs.

Rakov remains in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, according to LPSO. The sheriff’s office has not announced state drug charges. Federal authorities have not released a charging document. The investigation remains ongoing.

The case began on a heavily traveled interstate corridor east of Baton Rouge. Denham Springs sits within Livingston Parish, roughly 20 miles from Louisiana’s capital city. Commercial vehicles move through the area every day. Investigators have not announced the truck’s origin or destination.

FreightWaves contacted LPSO for additional details about the stop, the trailer search and possible charges. The agency had not responded before publication. This story will update if officials provide further information. LPSO shared photographs showing the scale of the seizure.

What the case does not yet explain

Authorities have not linked Rakov to any broader trafficking organization. They also have not disclosed whether the truck carried legitimate freight. The post did not identify a consignee, broker, carrier or shipper. Those details could determine whether criminals targeted a transportation company or used equipment independently.

LPSO’s announcement identifies a drug seizure, not a freight-fraud case. The available information does not show a stolen identity, fraudulent pickup or double-brokering scheme. It also does not establish what the driver knew about the trailer’s contents. Investigators will need to answer those questions as the matter develops.

Why It Matters

A single commercial vehicle can carry criminal cargo across state lines quickly and quietly. Freight professionals need clear verification processes because criminal investigations may later examine every party involved in a shipment.

Click here for more articles on cargo theft and freight fraud by Phil Brink.

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