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100+ charged SC drug roundup, some with Ga. connections
By The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Federal and local agents have charged more than 100 people on federal drug, weapon and immigration violations in what they called a vast conspiracy in South Carolina, authorities said Tuesday.
U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins announced more than 50 arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon, with those involved tied to Mexican drug suppliers connected to ``cells'' of drug dealers and gangs in Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C.
All 108 individuals named in the six federal indictments were charged with activities in Lexington and Richland Counties, which includes the city of Columbia, Wilkins said. Eleven of those arrested are illegal aliens from Mexico, he added.
``We have unveiled a vast conspiracy of high-level drug dealers,'' Wilkins said.
The U.S. attorney said the investigation began in September and involved members of an FBI-led anti-gang task force, the Richland and Lexington County Sheriff Departments, the Columbia Police Department and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
The investigation began in September, with undercover agents using wiretaps to make made numerous crack cocaine purchases. Wilkins said agents seized 33 firearms, about $568,000 in cash, 18 kilograms of cocaine and six pounds of marijuana.
Each of those charged will face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, the U.S. attorney said. Wilkins said he expected the prosecutions to move forward quickly, despite the complexity.
Many will face higher penalties because of prior felony drug convictions, Wilkins said.
At the announcement of the charges, FBI Special Agent in Charge Dave Thomas called the operation one of the largest gang investigations ever undertaken by federal and state officials in South Carolina.
The drug trafficking finances gang activities, Thomas said, so attacking those operations helps bring down the gang leadership.
``Modern gangs are more diverse, more dispersed and more dangerous than we have ever seen,'' Thomas said.
``Once the gang's leadership implodes, the gang's days are numbered.''
State Law Enforcement Director Reggie Lloyd said the action in the two counties should be replicated in other areas.
``We've got to model this for the rest of the state,'' Lloyd said. ``We've can be very aggressive. ... This group has attacked the root of the problem
By The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Federal and local agents have charged more than 100 people on federal drug, weapon and immigration violations in what they called a vast conspiracy in South Carolina, authorities said Tuesday.
U.S. Attorney Walt Wilkins announced more than 50 arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon, with those involved tied to Mexican drug suppliers connected to ``cells'' of drug dealers and gangs in Atlanta, Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C.
All 108 individuals named in the six federal indictments were charged with activities in Lexington and Richland Counties, which includes the city of Columbia, Wilkins said. Eleven of those arrested are illegal aliens from Mexico, he added.
``We have unveiled a vast conspiracy of high-level drug dealers,'' Wilkins said.
The U.S. attorney said the investigation began in September and involved members of an FBI-led anti-gang task force, the Richland and Lexington County Sheriff Departments, the Columbia Police Department and federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
The investigation began in September, with undercover agents using wiretaps to make made numerous crack cocaine purchases. Wilkins said agents seized 33 firearms, about $568,000 in cash, 18 kilograms of cocaine and six pounds of marijuana.
Each of those charged will face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison, the U.S. attorney said. Wilkins said he expected the prosecutions to move forward quickly, despite the complexity.
Many will face higher penalties because of prior felony drug convictions, Wilkins said.
At the announcement of the charges, FBI Special Agent in Charge Dave Thomas called the operation one of the largest gang investigations ever undertaken by federal and state officials in South Carolina.
The drug trafficking finances gang activities, Thomas said, so attacking those operations helps bring down the gang leadership.
``Modern gangs are more diverse, more dispersed and more dangerous than we have ever seen,'' Thomas said.
``Once the gang's leadership implodes, the gang's days are numbered.''
State Law Enforcement Director Reggie Lloyd said the action in the two counties should be replicated in other areas.
``We've got to model this for the rest of the state,'' Lloyd said. ``We've can be very aggressive. ... This group has attacked the root of the problem
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