A Lakewood man wanted in connection with the operation of a methamphetamine lab in the town of Westfield is in police custody.

Christopher L. Swanson, 44, of 41 W. Summit Ave., Lakewood, was taken into custody in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Saturday at approximately 3:30 a.m. following a joint investigation by the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force, NYSP Violent Felony Squad, U.S. Marshals Service, Orleans Parish La. Sheriff’s Office, Lakewood-Busti Police Department and the Jamestown Police Department.

Swanson was wanted on a Chautauqua County Grand Jury indictment warrant from an investigation by the STRDTF alleging he operated a meth lab in the Town of Westfield. In addition, Swanson was wanted on local court arrest warrants from the Lakewood-Busti and Jamestown police departments for allegedly operating meth labs in the Town of Busti and City of Jamestown.

Information obtained by the STRDTF and NYSP Violent Felony Squad led authorities to believe Swanson would be in New Orleans early Saturday morning. The intel was passed on to the U.S. Marshalls Office and forwarded to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office who were able to locate Swanson and take him into custody.

Swanson will be extradited to Chautauqua County where he will initially be arraigned on the grand jury warrant and then subsequently on the local warrants. There are also outstanding warrants pertaining to similar charges for Swanson from the state of Alaska.