SCDOJ: 2 indicted after largest fentanyl seizure in South Carolina history
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– The SCDOJ says a criminal investigation led to multiple arrests and is believed to be the largest seizure of fentanyl in SC history.
During the investigation, law enforcement found 156 pounds of fentanyl.
On July 1, DEA agents, Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies, and South Carolina State Transport Police officers conducted two coordinated traffic stops in Lexington and Richland counties.
Inside a tractor trailer that was transporting products with a legitimate business purpose, law enforcement also found large packages of illegal narcotics, according to SCDOJ.
Investigators believe the seized narcotics were sourced in Mexico and transported across the southern border.
Law enforcement seized around 156 pounds (71 kilograms) of fentanyl and 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of methamphetamine in total.
According to the DEA, two milligrams of fentanyl is considered a lethal dose; therefore, one kilogram of fentanyl can kill 500,000 people.
The seized fentanyl had the potential to kill 36 million people and a street retail value of $1.7 million, says the SC Dept. of Justice.
Two brothers operating the tractor trailer were arrested following the traffic stop and indicted on Tuesday, July 22.
Alberto Rios-Landeros, 26, and Chris Guadalupe Rios-Landeros, 23, both of Delano, California, have been indicted on charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Both face a maximum penalty of up to life in prison.
“This isn’t just a drug bust; it’s a life-saving intervention on an unprecedented scale for our state. Law enforcement has been working together at every level to keep South Carolina safe, and we’re committed to dismantling the criminal networks that bring this poison into our communities,” says U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina.
The investigation is part of Operation Take Back America which is a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department (LCSD), with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) , the State Transport Police, the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD).
