south carolina drug bust

He is also an author and an avid Civil War enthusiast. He has other friends that have died as well. What if someone not affiliated with drugs at all wanted Paul taken out and hired somebody local on the fringes of society? Roberts says Adam thought he was taking Xanax for his anxiety but ended up with enough fentanyl in his system to kill four people. Some even volunteered to come along, enticed by the idea of cruising the Caribbean and returning on mattresses of marijuana bales. March 3 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Britain responded to a home to rescue a horse that had fallen into its owner's swimming pool and was unable to get itself out. In a case reaching both sides of the Rio Grande, 43 Upstate drug trafficking defendants now face a total of 170 charges after being indicted by the South Carolina statewide grand jury. Surrey couple plans to pay off mortgage after winning $500,000. 'They were headed for New York City and Miami.'. In the 1970s, kingpins and Columbia natives Les Riley and Barry Foy smuggled an astounding amount of marijuana and hashish into South Carolina, equating $1.8 billion in todays dollars. The owner of multiple businesses in the Five Points shopping and entertainment district in downtown Columbia, South Carolina - and the former vice president of its influential neighborhood. If there is a drug connection to Alex, he would definitely be the big fish in the region. Defendant Kelli Edwards allegedly fled in October 2022. Back then, the U.S. Attorneys Office had little security and nothing to keep someone from walking off the street and into a prosecutors office. Forsberg oversaw a unit of dedicated men and women, who all collectively work tirelessly to protect the community from some of societys most dangerous individuals, his obituary read. Those involved are allegedly in a drug ring associated with Mexican cartels, state officials said. Could a rash of recent date rapes in this college town be the focus of city polices ongoing investigation?. They were arraigned late Wednesday in Charleston before U.S. District Judge Sol Blatt Jr. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. It was just talked on Wednesday, see you later and there was no later, she said. LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - Lexington County deputies have arrested a 26-year-old man after investigators found more than 90 pounds of marijuana in his home. While law enforcement had tried to catch the smugglers in the past and, in a few instances, succeeded, they were hampered in the 1970s by unsophisticated or nonexistent equipment, insufficient support, and the miles and miles of South Carolina shoreline. Operation Jackpot was a federal drug task force based in South Carolina that captured and convicted more than 100 marijuana smugglers from 1983 to 1986 during President Ronald Reagan's War on Drugs. U.S. Attorney Henry McMaster stands next to the Dutch Treat, a yacht owned by queenpin Carol Amend until its seizure by the U.S. government under the then-untested legal tactic of civil asset forfeiture. A trusted neighbor is on top of a 20-foot ladder in . The longest sentence went to Lee Harvey, who received 40 years for drug smuggling, possession of machine guns and silencers, intimidation of a grand jury witness, and racketeering, among other charges. I dont think so either but others have theorized about it so I thought Id post just to show there had been an investigation going on in Hampton county for a year. Les and Barry enjoy a ride on a fishing boat with Barry displaying a bag of pot. 170 charges filed against defendants linked to Mexican cartel . ', Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. Barry flew to Jamaica to meet with suppliers, while Les and three others struggled to sail there in storms, high seas, and high winds. By signing up to the Blaze News newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Blaze Media that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. When all the Operation Jackpot trials were over, more than 100 smugglers went to jail. Wild as it seems, the story is true. Carolina Panthers founder, former owner Jerry Richardson dies at . Growing up a few miles from Les in Columbia, Barry Foy spent his youth delivering newspapers and eggs, working on construction crews, and pumping gas. They reportedly were part of a drug trafficking organization that operating in Pickens, Greenville, Laurens, Anderson, and Oconee Counties. Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly. 'F****** AMATEUR HOUR': Furious Democrats lash out at Biden for announcement on radical DC crime law, Gun-toting road-rage motorist shot dead after armed man warns him to stop approaching him and his wife; cops say it looks like self-defense, Railroad union: Workers getting sick at site of Norfolk Southern's catastrophic hazmat spill in East Palestine, Teen bragged in rap song about killing another rapper, sheriff says, but cried 'like a baby that lost his pacifier' when charged with murder, Florida man allegedly told roommate, 'Im going to go over there and kill them all' before murdering his daughter and 3 others, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Large drug bust in Hampton County (for those of you who believe drugs played a role in the murders). Click this link for the original source of this article. Theyre dealing death: York County, S.C. state leaders speak on fentanyl bust. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? North Carolina. Folks, if this was a bag full of terrorists, if this was anthrax, our response would be overwhelming. Email him at mark@fitsnews.com. In the 1970s, the drug was widely used, and the publics attitude was apathetic. Operation Jackpot was also one of the first federal task forces to combine investigators from a variety of federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Customs, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Customs Patrol. https://youtube.com/@MurdaughMurders?si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE, https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/local/hampton-county-guardian/2021/07/27/two-more-suspects-custody-operation-pentagon-arrest-tally-now-20/5385106001/. They learned they could make more money if they obtained their product from Colombia rather than Jamaica. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Deputies seize more than 90 pounds of marijuana during drug bust at South Carolina home. I thought my God thats just a mile from my house. Bookings are updated several times a day so check back often! Im his mother what else would I say. The investigation and prosecution is known as Operation Jackpot, which was chronicled in a book called Jackpot: High Times, High Seas, and the Sting That Launched the War on Drugs by Jason Ryan. [2], Last edited on 2 September 2022, at 16:19, "25 years later, 8,000 pounds of pot could get man 5 years", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Jackpot_(drug_investigation)&oldid=1108113124, This page was last edited on 2 September 2022, at 16:19. But these moms believe getting some of the big fish off the street could save the lives of many. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Their synergy was really something.. WALTERBORO, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) - The jury in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial has convicted the disbarred Lowcountry attorney of murdering his wife and son. A major drug bust in upstate South Carolina resulted in 124 charges against 34 defendants allegedly involved with a Mexican cartel trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine in the southeast. SLED agent Robert Stewart and Bart Daniel also traveled to Australia while the case was being appealed. The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. Later, he moved into a Hollywood, Florida, beachside hotel frequented by men who participated in, among other activities, drug dealing. Rest easy, hero. Another tip came through phone numbers salvaged from a suspected drug boat scuttled in the Edisto River. Still, it was more than they could spend. Banned items included crack cocaine, knives, tobacco, guns, phones, and even candy. Illegal drugs,. Firefighters hoist horse stranded in backyard swimming pool. His upbringing was typical of the South, with plenty of time spent hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. South Carolina prosecutors have announced its biggest drug bust in state history, with 100 defendants facing nearly 500 charges. NYC Asking People to Give Bikes to Illegal Aliens! The next big adventure came through importing hashish from faraway locales like Lebanon and Singapore. represent clients in a variety of civil and criminal matters. Mark Powellisanaward-winning former TV journalist, government communications veteran, and a political consultant. The trucks run by Mexican restaurant Los Primos. Officials refused to identify the fifth Colombian arrested. Theres no way theyd have the gumption to kill Maggie and Paul. Purchase a new subscription and qualify for $100 of fine dining, theater tickets and MORE! I dont believe there was a drug connection to the Murdaughs but it wouldnt surprise me if LE saw this as an opportunity to round up a bunch of local criminals (of varying levels of serious criminality) and see if anything shook loose in exchange for some leniency. The cartel we believe is primarily involved in this is La Familia," Homeland Security Deputy Special Agent Mike Prado said. ago As with anyone accused of committing any crime, the Sears are considered innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system or until such time as they may wish to enter some form of allocution in connection with a plea agreement with prosecutors related to any of the charges which have been filed against them. 'In layman's terms, this is enough cocaine for . Alleged drug traffickers in South Carolina used taco trucks to transport pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin, state prosecutors said Wednesday. Organized by U.S. Attorney Henry McMaster, Operation Jackpot was one of the first federal drug task forces to use newly enacted federal civil forfeiture laws to combat drug smugglers by seizing the gentlemen smugglers' assets, including homes, cars, money and boats. SEE IT: Bidens message to Zelenskyy written in Ukraine Royal Palace guest book, Twitter 2023 USSA News, The Tea Party's Front Page. Houses, land, boats, and prized cars all disappeared into government coffers, much to the consternation of the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates. One of the defendants, a paralegal, is accused of sending drugs and phones into prison through hollowed out court transcripts, ABC News 4 reports. According to my law enforcement sources, this ongoing investigation has less to do with marijuana a drug which most people in the Palmetto State (including me) believe should be legalized and more to do with a rash of recent date rape druggings that allegedly occurred in the Five Points region of Columbia. Judge Hawkins died in 2005, Dewey Greager in 2017, and Cam Littlejohn in 2018. Both suspects were released from the Florence County Detention Center on April 2, 2022, on a $50,000 surety bond each. While law enforcement had tried to catch the smugglers in the past and, in a few instances, succeeded, they were hampered in the 1970s by unsophisticated or nonexistent equipment, insufficient support, and the miles and miles of South Carolina shoreline. The drugs were busted in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and also in the Caribbean Sea. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. . Law enforcement says the people arrested for this crime will face 15 years in prison. Les Riley lives on Seabrook Island. But, by pooling their collective expertise, they were an extraordinarily effective weapon against drug smuggling. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. As a true crime community, we promote civil discussions surrounding the alleged crimes of Alex Murdaugh and related entanglements. 5, 2022 at 7:26 PM EDT . Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. On the other side are the avengers the scores of investigators and prosecutors that read like a whos who of South Carolina legal minds. LEXINGTON, S.C. (WIS) - A more than two-year investigation landed 17 people in federal custody as authorities busted a drug trafficking ring in the Midlands. When I saw the address come up we knew people that used to live on that road. Investigators believe the alleged drug traffickers were responsible for moving more than 1,000 kilograms (more than one ton) of methamphetamine, 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine, and 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of heroin in the state. York County and South Carolina leaders say current state and federal laws are not strict enough to keep fentanyl off South Carolina streets so there need to be sweeping changes. I could barely move my arms and legs without help.. . Politics. Typical agency turf wars were not allowed; anyone who refused to play nice was excused from the team. The couple is also known as Rob and Lynn Greene. "A well-known, very violent cartel thats operated for many years in Mexico.. Typical agency turf wars were not allowed; anyone who refused to play nice was excused from the team. Last week, deputies seized over 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. As native South Carolinians, they did not take long to settle on the lush Carolina coast, with its virtually endless waterways and, in the 1970s, undeveloped seclusion. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Pinch the little fish to get info on the big fish. In January 1981, Ronald Reagan became president and promoted a stiff policy on drugs. Those murders look very much like a drug hit and probably not a hit by some low down on the food chain drug users. He has friends that have died. According to arrest records, 33-year-old Geoffrey Sears was charged with manufacturing marijuana while 39-year-old Jonathan Sears was charged with possession with intent to distribute and a separate charge of possession with intent to distribute in close proximity to a school. Sergeant Forsberg gave and dedicated everything he had to his family, friends, coworkers, and the community.. according to the press release from the South Carolina attorney general. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Thanks to a corrupt jailer, Bob later escaped from a Charleston County jail and disappeared. The five Colombians in custody are Jorge Samuel Cruz, Luis F. Taboada-Garcia, Felipe Janer and Juan Carlos Perez. All these kids have had other friends that have died, said Alsobrooks. It wouldnt be the best idea but who knows? Eight people suspected of importing the drug from Colombia and distributing it throughout the East Coast were arrested as they arrived at a Sea Pines Plantation Home to pick up the cocaine. Attorney general Alan Wilson announced the indictments on Thursday. Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? We are forever indebted to his brave service and pray that he will Rest In Peace.. Kentucky man stops for breakfast, wins $50,000 lottery prize. Published: May. Just after the first trial, a man did just that. The full list of defendants and the charges they each face can be found here. Especially, when it is quite literally close to home. Id want to see the actual lab result before I believed it. This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://bluelivesmatter.blue and its author. His upbringing was typical of the South, with plenty of time spent hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. "Theres much more volume flowing into our communities. Officials with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said Javier Ayala has been charged . First Published: 1:00 PM PDT, May 19, 2022 Officials seized paraphernalia in South Carolina and Georgia, leading to 34 individuals facing charges. Reflecting back, Governor McMaster says, It was virtually impossible to catch them in the act. These are just the highlights of this incredible, true tale. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Barry Foy and Les were making so much money it was hard to figure out what to do with it all. In the 1970s, kingpins and Columbia natives Les Riley and Barry Foy smuggled an astounding amount of marijuana and hashish into South Carolina, equating $1.8 billion in today's dollars. Ultimately, Operation Jackpot would indict four smuggling rings operating in South Carolina. For more information about our use of cookies, our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information generally, and any rights you may have to access, delete, or opt out of the sale of your personal information, please view our. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. Barry and Les met in Key West where, in 1973, Barry persuaded Les that smuggling grass was much more lucrative than cutting it. 9 arrested after drug bust in Greenwood County, deputies say. Make sure you see our stories daily directly to your inbox. Others, including Barry and Les, were harder to bring in. The story is utterly fantastic, with a list of villains so long one has trouble keeping up with them all. A South Carolina sheriff's office has concluded a one-year investigation into a major drug operation that saw them seizing enough fentanyl to kill around 15 million people. It is much more significant," he said. Last week, deputies seized more than 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. While it was a more lucrative product, cocaine smugglers invariably toted automatic weapons. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bob Byers got a 25-year sentence plus eight years for his escape. Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said in thestatement, This was a very large scale organized drug operation that allegedly was trafficking kilograms of drugs every week into Greenville County,, The hard work and dedication of the Greenville Drug Enforcement Unit, SLED, and the South Carolina State Grand Jury has significantly decreased the availability of drugs in the Greenville Community and arrested some of its worst drug dealers., Aristocrat Constance Marten and Sex-Offender Mark Gordon's Missing Baby Found Dead in Countryside, Cops Say, GOP Legislator Introduces Bill That Would Eliminate Florida's Democratic Party, Florida Student, 17, Who Attacked Teacher to Be Tried as Adult, Woman Convicted in Connection to Lady Gaga Dognapping Sues Singer for $500,000 Reward Money, 5 Ballet Dancers Seriously Injured in California Hit-and-Run Car Crash Strive to Heal to Return to the Stage, 17-Year-Old Michigan Boy Slain by 13-Year-Old and 14-Year-Old Who He Offered Ride Home on Cold Night: Police. Overdue book returned to Massachusetts library after 56 years. According to a news. 'For the most part, these drugs were not headed for South Carolina,' he said. In a case reaching both sides of the Rio Grande, 43 Upstate drug trafficking defendants now face a total of 170 charges after being indicted by the South Carolina statewide grand jury. Police in South Carolina seized more than 65 pounds of fentanyl Wednesday in a drug raid that officials describe as the largest-ever seizure of . To cut costs, Amazon delays completion of second headquarters, closes retail stores, 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'True Romance' actor Tom Sizemore dead at 61, Dozens killed, injured as Jakarta fuel depot fire engulfs neighborhood, Migrant woman dies after U.S. Coast Guard stops vessel carrying 54, 3 children killed, 2 hospitalized in North Texas domestic incident. After college, Les moved to Key West and started a landscaping business, cutting grass for $5. He was a dedicated father, public servant and friend. David and Chuck fed questions to her for the kingpin and used the information to set a trap. Les and Barry considered marijuana a nearly legal product. Two rules were sacrosanct: no guns and no smuggling cocaine. <p>Pounds of various drugs were transported by taco trucks owned by a restaurant as part of a large drug-dealing operation in South Carolina, state authorities said Wednesday.</p> Unbeknownst to his grandmother, Skip charged the smugglers a fee to offload their product there. The two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers given their standards and college education. Greenville, South Carolina--- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett Dehart announced today that, on Thursday, August 12, 2021, a joint team of 130 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers simultaneously executed 20 federal search warrants and arrested 12 individuals charged in a 34-count federal indictment for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that operated primarily . His loved ones and his BSO family will forever carry on his legacy.. Arrests resulted in insignificant charges, if any, so the two did not feel they were doing anything really criminal. Christian K-8 school last year declared that 'we stand with the LGBTQIA+ community and believe in their holiness.' MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA Less than twenty months after 30 Horry County and Myrtle Beach-area drug traffickers were indicted based on a federal wiretap investigation into narcotics and violence, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina announced today that all 30 have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in federal court. News 19 reports that much of the operation was in the Upstate counties. Federal drug unit targets South Surrey home in bust spanning Lower Mainland. Even though task force members cooperated with one another, their superiors sometimes tried to throw up turf-related roadblocks. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Both sides ceased fire when the smugglers boats arrived to pick up hashish because drug money paid for the war to go on. Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. Bigs,' arrived to collect the shipment. The co-conspirators also face multiple charges related to their role in the drug trafficking operation. Conventional thinking was that major smuggling originated in big cities like New York, Atlanta, or Chicago; however, David Forbes with the IRS and Claude McDonald with Customs received enough tips and rumors over the years to believe the culprits were closer to home. The task force, in concert with the U.S. Attorneys Office, worked to bring the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates to justice. We are forever indebted to his brave service and pray that he will Rest In Peace. That was a good feeling seeing all those pills were off the street. SCDNR never sought a warrant to compel the hospital to draw Pauls blood that night, but the hospital did anyway The doctor said that no drugs were found in Pauls system.. He was joined at a news conference in Columbia by S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) chief Mark Keel and other authorities. He said, Hi Bart, my names Christy Campbell, and Im here to turn myself in, says Bart. Heres the link to the podcast on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MurdaughMurders?si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE, IMO This seems way more relevant knowing what we know now! On Saturday, Shackeel Aaron Coleman, 29, of Conway, South Carolina, was charged with two counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic cocaine, and maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances. Rounding up these folks could well get them talking about the big drug bosses. South Carolina drug bust catches Charleston college drug ring pushing cocaine, Ecstasy and Xanax By Tobias Salinger NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Jun 24, 2016 at 8:06 pm Nine young people arrested as. Large drug bust in Hampton County (for those of you who believe drugs played a role in the murders). Here is the full video of the press conference . Operation Jackpot used what was then a new approach: Focusing on the identification and seizure of illicit wealth, then tracing it back to the smugglers bringing tons of marijuana and Lebanese. Sergeant Forsberg served 21 years with the Broward Sheriffs Office and was a great asset to the BSOs Homicide Unit. Yet our response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis is underwhelming, Tolson said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); South Carolina's 'Trial of the Century' is over but the 'Murdaugh King Of Five Points Arrested As Part Of Massive Drug Bust In Columbia, South Carolina, Murdaugh Murders: South Carolina Attorney General Must Step In And Remove Rogue Solicitor, Governors Mansion Valet Killed In Car Crash, SCDOT: Internal Audits Show Rash Of Scandals, Alex Murdaugh Sentenced To Life Behind Bars, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Sentencing Hearing, Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Guilty On All Counts. Les and another defendant, Wally Butler, were found living in Australia and arrested on May 5, 1983. It might surprise people that cartel drug trafficking happens in South Carolina, but it does and were fighting to stop it, Wilson said. TikTok video from True Crime Stories (@truecrimestories215): "The 1981 South Carolina Drug Smuggling Bust In The Edisto River #truecrime #truecrimecommunity #truestory #truecrimetiktok #makingamurderer #AlexMurdaugh #trending #fyp". The case was investigated by the South Carolina State Grand Jury, which was assisted in this case by a partnership of the Attorney Generals State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitors office, Anderson County Sheriffs Office, Pickens County Sheriffs Office, Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office, Easley Police Department, Abbeville County Sheriffs Office, and the Oconee County Sheriffs Office. Patty Roberts is not mincing her words when speaking on fentanyl. South Carolina prosecutors have announced its biggest drug bust in state history, with 100 defendants facing nearly 500 charges. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Nine people are facing federal charges after a major drug bust in the Hollywood area of southern Charleston County. In college at the University of South Carolina, Les was known to take his dates to the roof of Cornell Arms to smoke marijuana and enjoy the sunset. With that, Barrys career as a drug smuggler launched, and he enjoyed legendary status among Columbias marijuana enthusiasts. An abandoned van full of sacks of Lebanese hashish was found following a raid on Edisto Island in November 1981. On Monday (March 8) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said that, so far, 100 people are facing 297 counts and 487 charges total, News 19 reports. Kingpin Les Riley, who grew up in Columbia and attended USC, had a Southern upbringing that included hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. The sheriff added that 87 people have lost their lives to fentanyl so far in 2022. The attorney general's office said a "substantial portion" of the drugs seized in Atlanta were intended for South Carolina. The escapades are daring and dangerous, with heart pounding chases, life-threatening clashes with nature, and audacious smugglers halting a raging civil war on more than one occasion.

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