Arkansas Man Arrested on Felony Drug Charges After Cops Misidentify Perfume as Illegal Substance: Body Camera Reveals the Truth

An Arkansas police officer believed he struck gold upon discovering a vial of Opium perfume in a man’s vehicle, misidentifying it as the narcotic substance opium, leading to felony drug charges against the individual. Kapil Raghu, an Indian immigrant, languished in custody for a month. His wife, Ashley Mays, expressed outrage, stating, “They opened that bottle knowing it was cologne,” criticizing the officials for lacking the integrity to halt the erroneous arrest. After a crime lab confirmed the substance was Yves Saint Laurent’s popular perfume, the charges were dismissed. However, Raghu’s visa overstay resulted in ICE involvement, transferring him to a federal detention center in Louisiana for four weeks. Mays shared the deplorable conditions he faced, coupled with the challenging detention circumstances concerning his dietary restrictions. Though released, Raghu remains under house arrest with an ankle monitor, while Mays figures out how to handle the repercussions, having already spent $20,000 on legal fees. (Photo: Body camera and Paris-Avenues.com)