Then Again Some People Thing That Weed s a Narcotic
Greenville restaurant served as hub for cocaine and meth trafficking operation, AG says
I desire to thank everyone for being hither. Today is actually *** very exciting day for the states. We're here to announce indictments against *** major drug trafficking ring operating in south Carolina and Georgia. Um, this is *** multi jurisdictional, multi agency endeavour and we're hither today to talk nearly that. Um, *** couple of years agone, local police force enforcement agencies in the upstate were conducting um drug ownership operations and during their investigation uh, establish out that federal law enforcement agencies were conducting are from *** dissimilar attribute. Nosotros're looking into some of the aforementioned people that they were investigating. This led to kind of *** articulation operation in which all of us got together working through the due south Carolina country grand jury and the attorney general's part, as well every bit local country and federal partners in south Carolina and and upwards at the federal level, started working together to deport an expansive investigation into this drug trafficking ring. For obvious reasons, because this is an ongoing investigation. We can't talk about the details of how the investigation was carried out, simply I can't say that we take aggressively used every tool at our disposal to get these drugs and these drug dealers off our streets here in southward Carolina. Now, earlier I become into any of the facts, I want to go ahead and state unequivocally, uh, make certain I put this disclaimer out here that all defendants in this case are presumed innocent unless and until convicted by *** court of law without being said. Typically drugs come up across the Us Southern edge and are then transported to Atlanta Georgia, which is the major drug hub for the Southeast region of the United States. From in that location, they often come in uh to south Carolina. The investigation in this particular case centers around *** eatery operating in the upstate, which acted as someone as *** regional hub in the upstate of south Carolina. The eating house is called Los Premios, which was located really near an elementary school. The restaurant uh served not only nutrient but served as the regional hub in which cocaine and methamphetamine were allegedly trafficked throughout south Carolina and other states. In our region, restaurant owners also allegedly operated taco trucks which they used to sell their drugs in that area. The the results thus far, this ongoing investigation Accept resulted in 124 charges against 34 defendants. From this investigation, we have seized well-nigh 11 kg of methamphetamine, 11 kg has *** street value. Nosotros're estimating of approximately $825,000. 584 g of cocaine were seized with *** street value of approximately $70,000. They seized around $63,000 in greenbacks and over 20 firearms. The investigation revealed that historically and we learned this that historically through this drug trafficking functioning, we deemed for over m kg of methamphetamine being trafficked hither in South Carolina. That has *** street value of over $75 1000000. We likewise discovered historically accounted for in this investigation That 100 kg of cocaine with *** street value of over $12 million Due south Carolina, 2 kg of heroin. Um, through this drug operating band With *** street value of over $200,000. These drugs historically have been trafficked throughout the state of S Carolina. At present, the investigation that we did in this state uh, really lead to seizures in Atlanta Georgia Raids and stash houses in Atlanta led to approximately 200 kg of methamphetamine. That's $15 million. Street value existence seized along with 3.5 kg of cocaine. Put that in street value terms over $400,000, kilos of heroin With over $300,000 value on the street, five oz of cocaine mixed with fentaNYL. At present, let me say this again, five ounces of cocaine mixed with fentaNYL. Now nosotros all know what's going on around this country and it isn't bad enough when people are dealing in cocaine, but fentaNYL is *** deadly poisonous substance. And for those people out there who use drugs recreationally don't ever assume that what y'all're getting isn't gonna exist laced with something that can impale yous. So that is another thing that was very concerning to us. £183 of marijuana were seized over in that Atlanta Stash Firm, 900 Xanax pills and multiple firearms. Then it is *** very robust operation that bled over into the country of Georgia. *** large portion of those drugs were allegedly intended to be trafficked over hither in s Carolina at present, I've talked well-nigh the multijurisdictional nature of this, the number of agencies involved. And you tin see at that place'due south *** lot of folks standing upward here with me. Alibi me, I want to say thank you to them. I'm continuing up here today to kind of give you lot an overview, only this investigation would not be where it is today. If it wasn't for *** number of people, let me go ahead. I always practice my team last and I'm always worried that I'k gonna forget him. But the uh the the case was plainly conducted through the state thousand jury are pb attorney. And and there's Creighton waters assisted past john Conrad, there are other staff who aren't standing up hither, simply they were very involved. My skilful friend and colleague and partner, uh Chief of the South kind of constabulary enforcement segmentation Chief Mark keel, who is either standing right backside, right behind me over my shoulder where he ordinarily is, um he was assisted past uh excuse me. His agent, Lieutenant Tyrell Woodring was was *** leader in this attempt. And also primary won't accept *** moment to talk about the sled narcotic agents. Narcotics agents that work at sled in that unit. Um they're not being listed were not saying their names, You lot don't see their faces, just they are always there, they are heroes. They chief, I can't tell you enough how much my team brags on your agents and their efforts and and busting upwardly these type of drug trafficking rings. And I wanted to give *** shout out to the sled narcotics unit for their efforts. Again, we tin't recognize them for obvious reasons. I want to say thank yous to my skilful friend walt Wilkins. He is here representing the 13th solicitors, 13th Judicial Circuit and the solicitor'due south office and solicitor Wilkins, I'thousand sorry, sitting standing adjacent to Primary kill you'll hear from him momentarily. Um He was very instrumental in working to set up the Greenville County multijurisdictional drug enforcement unit chosen D EU for short, but they are here today. Helm johnny Westmoreland and Lieutenant Shannon Pillar atomic number 82 that that unit and them along with the leadership of solicitor Wilkins. Um manifestly play an instrumental role in this investigation. And I desire to thank them. And this is somewhat of *** novel unit and I know you'll talk *** trivial bit nearly that in *** minute and we appreciate that the United States Homeland Security investigations is here today and they are represented past resident amanuensis in Charge, Russell russell Linse Todd and Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mike Prado, You're gonna hear from uh Deputy Special amanuensis charged Prado here momentarily. The Bureau of alcohol, Tobacco and firearms. The pickens County Sheriff's office. The sheriff rick clark couldn't exist here. But Captain chuck James and Lieutenant Brett Barwick are representing that department. The Anderson County Sheriff's function. Again, Sheriff chad Mcbride could not be hither. Merely Amanuensis john velez is representing uh that Sheriff's department, the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Section. Uh and once again, my good friend chuck right, couldn't be here. Um, merely they are represented here today. Were involved in that investigation. The Greenville Canton Sheriff's office was evidently involved in this investigation. Sheriff Lewis uh, is not hither, but he sent major Mike moore who has represented us today. So thank you for being here. The easily constabulary Department Primary stan witten is here. Agent Tim Sargent and agent Bryant Gibson and of course the south Carolina National Guard Counter Drug Chore Strength. It's *** long list of people to say thank you. Just again, every single person, every single bureau and entity had their hands on this investigation. And and then the amount of drugs and the amount of people we have taken off the streets, uh, could not have happened without all of their involvement at this fourth dimension. Um, we're gonna hear from three people. I want to invite Chief Mark keel, the Chief of sled to come here, merely say *** few brief remarks and and so he volition be followed by solicitor walt Wilkins and so finally by deputy special amanuensis charge of mike prado with H. S. I. And and so nosotros will conclude Chief thank you. I just desire to say *** couple of things. Very briefly. Uh, we take *** significant violent law-breaking problem hither in our state. Much of the violent crime that we see in southward Carolina is connected in some way related to drugs. And that's the reason for the efforts that we have is to endeavour and stop this gun violence and some of the violent criminal offence that, that is continued to uh, drug trafficking in s Carolina. And secondly, I simply desire to say that one of the things that we always talk well-nigh hither and talk about information technology. Sled is developing partnerships, partnerships and efforts similar this is what makes these efforts successful. We have to accept our relationships with our cities counties, our federal partners. And when we put all of our efforts together, nosotros don't worry about who gets credit for it. We just go out and practise the job. That's when we have the most success. And this is the kind of success that we desire to keep, keep having. We want to continue these relationships continue to partnerships that we take with state local and our federal partners. Thank you. Thanks master. Thank you lot chief. I'm solicitor walt Wilkins and I'm the solicitor of Greenville and Pickens counties. And it'south surely my pleasure to be hither today. Um, I want to thank all these individuals standing here with me. The law enforcement efforts, uh, that everyone, uh, did to assail this major drug trafficking dream was, was anything but unbelievable. Um, as the chief prosecutor in those two counties along with law enforcement, we've recognized the difference in taking on drug traffickers as opposed to 10 years ago and it's changed the fact that it is much more significant. There's much more than volume flowing into our communities. It'south much more organized as seen in this case. Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, we're pumping into Greenville County and the surrounding areas and it took all resource and every, every tool at our disposal to accept on these organized drug traffickers selling information technology out of restaurants and taco trucks with just i way in which they were delivering these, this poison into our communities. Um, as *** result, nosotros've had to get better, smarter and more organized. And one of the ways that we did that was in the upstate, we established the drug enforcement unit where we're bringing all law enforcement together nether one roof to attack, um, mid to high level drug organizations. So cities, county sheriff'due south deputies sled federal partners are all coming together continuously to take on these, these individuals and and assault these drug dealers. Uh, and information technology'due south something that, that that's the story that that should be told today, is that the corporeality of drugs flowing into our country and our communities as at the highest level that I've ever seen. It and I've been doing this for over xv years and this is what we are doing to combat that. So the message that I want to transport that those that are out there that decide that they want to, they want to traffic drugs and they want to come to our communities and pump this poison our communities. We're hither, nosotros're getting organized and we're gonna take on every single one and hold them all all answerable at some point in fourth dimension in *** in *** courtroom of law. Thank y'all all. Mhm. Good afternoon everybody. Mike Prado, Deputy special agent in accuse, Homeland security investigations out of charlotte with oversight over our offices here in southward Carolina likewise. And just *** pleasance to exist hither today with all of my colleagues. This is *** major win, not just for the agencies represented up here, just really *** major win for the people of south Carolina. As Attorney Full general, Wilson mentioned Uh the amount of narcotics that have been taken off the street, the amount of guns that have been taken off the street, the amount of coin taken away from these organizations will bargain *** significant blow to the transnational criminal organizations that are quite frankly, operating right here in Southward Carolina and in the upstate and using the I-85 as *** pipeline. Information technology's our mission at homeland security investigations likewise. Cutting off that pipeline, use our global presence are transnational criminal investigative authority to assist our local and state partners in any way we can, whether that'southward the resources personnel, um or manpower or personnel and manpower and any other uh tools at our disposal to assist in whatsoever way we can in the abstract, apparently, we're going through *** major epidemic of drug trafficking, drug overdoses throughout the country, but here locally, um, I think we've dealt *** major accident to *** system that has direct ties to mexican drug cartels. That's where H. Due south. I can come up in with our partners that sled with our partners at the, at the, at the task force level and really work in cooperation together. So it'south *** pleasure. Um, we're going to continue to practise this. This is uh, this is the commencement and not the end of these, uh, cooperative arrangements. And nosotros expect frontward to more successes. Cheers. Thank y'all. Amanuensis Prado, appreciate that again. Um, you know, when information technology comes to drug trafficking, specially when you're dealing with cartels in Mexico, every land's border state and southward Carolina is no different. And then again with our federal and our country and our local partners. I want to say thanks once more because without their efforts nosotros wouldn't be here today. I want to close past saying this concluding twelvemonth, working with many of the same people that are continuing upwardly here today are representing agencies that were involved. Nosotros, the state m jury was involved with the prison empire case, which involved, that'due south where meth was allegedly trafficked by prison inmates, uh, prison leaders with contraband cellphones And that resulted in the indictment of 487 charges against over 100 defendants that was basically pouring into our country. That investigation led to the seizure of equally much as xx kg of meth 5 kg of heroin, 1.five kg of cocaine and 82 firearms from that investigation alone. In addition, we learned that over thousand kg of meth, historically speaking, wasn't seized at that time. Historically had been trafficked through the state of south Carolina. We learned that from that 1 investigation. Then there was the rocket fuel. Once more, land yard jury case and partnership was sled and some of our agents agencies up here. Uh, that was That, that was the case involved gang meth being trafficked throughout Atlanta into South Carolina into the upstate that involved 81 charges confronting 26 defendants. And historically, we learned that investigation that over 680 kg or £1500 of meth were brought into s Carolina. In that instance assuming cocaine, five kg of meth and eight ounces of heroin were besides seized. And again, many of the people upwardly here today were involved in those cases as well. Then this is three cases in the last year, year and *** half that hundreds of millions of dollars were in contraband has been seized or stopped from coming into the country of southward Carolina. And I desire to give thanks them again. All correct. This concludes my remarks. I desire to say cheers for for covering this. Um, and over again, nosotros're happy to answer any questions that you may have, sir? Are yous able to tell us the timeline kind of when this investigation started? Who wants to have that? Exercise yous want to create Creighton Waters? It runs our prosecution unit in the state grand jury section. Some of the initial um, buys that happened, you know, and this is the mode *** lot of these showtime. They started at the local level. They started um, with buys and uh, and that sort of affair that are being conducted investigations that are conducted. Some of that goes back every bit far as 2018 and 2019. Uh, it is common for law enforcement agencies to as they develop, um, data that they're pursuing to check with other constabulary enforcement agencies in the area to meet if they take something similar, uh, connections were made. And then what yous see, uh, came from that every bit the event of this. And that's all these agencies coming together. I want to give *** special thanks to uh, H. Southward. I who really Provided *** lot of resource and manpower to help augment the state and local resource and getting this done. But information technology'due south been going on for *** while. The, the affiliation of all these agencies performance together has really been going on since the fall of 2021. Are you lot able to say, kind of what initially tipped off to this specific location *** couple of years back? Well, equally Main Impale said, dope leads to violence. Dope leads to holding crime. Dope leads to other things that you see um in order and then many instances y'all have uh local police force enforcement, you accept solicitor Wilkins, Greenville, d'you, which was one of the early um agencies are on this particular thing and they're detecting criminal offense in their communities and they start to expect at the sources of that. And one of the things that um that things like this, that task forces like this do is instead of handling each case where y'all might have some dope seized in *** traffic end or from *** search warrant instead of treatment those is just one offs. What these uh task forces endeavor to do is figure out, how are all these things related? How is that property crime, How is this auction, how is this traffic stop? How is the search warrant? How are they all related? Let's figure out how they're related. And more importantly, let'due south figure out who is the leadership, who's at the center of this and that's who we need to put *** stop to. And solicitor Wilkins already touched on this. But Mr Wilson to what kind of warning business and for people allegedly participating in this kind of action and others. Well, my hope is information technology will have *** deterrent outcome. But I think the message nosotros're trying to send is if you appoint in this illicit blazon of action? Drug trafficking, you're gonna eventually get busted and we're gonna put yous away. Um and there's ***, at that place'south an army of men and women out there and various agencies at all levels of government that are going to be looking for you. And if they oasis't already establish yous, um, to what Creighton was said, frequently these cases, I similar to use analogies, you're going out to your yard and pull the weed and that nosotros'd turns into *** room and yous start pulling the root. And next affair, yous know, halfway across the yard is attached to an underground stump root system. Oftentimes *** major drug trafficking ring starts with, you know, boots on the ground, law enforcement officers doing minor drug buys and they outset pulling the thread and it just leads to something much much bigger. And and so you find out that there's other agencies on the other side of the state, on the other side of the ring, looking at other people involved and when y'all start sharing information and collaborating and working sharing resource, you're able to go to the, to the actual heart of it. The actual, the cause of it not, not, not assault the symptoms, but set on the cause of the ring. And that's what we're trying to exercise here. And you'll speak to us about how something similar this perpetuates the amount of overdose deaths last year. Well, I tin can tell you lot anecdotally. Um, I've talked about this earlier, I'g really concerned about the the fentaNYL outcome. Um, of course, you know, I've, I've talked to *** number of people in southward Carolina who had loved ones who were taking pain medications laced with fentaNYL. Um, and and died the smallest amounts. Um, that is something that concerns me and manifestly go dorsum to what Chief kiel was talking about. *** lot of these, *** lot of these drugs at, on the end, at the user level, it's someone recreationally using *** drug and then they get fond. And of course the addiction leads to, yous know, ways to pay for the drug, which leads to property crimes, which leads to violent crimes. And, and, and, and not not only with the finish user, but with the people selling the drug and facilitating the sale of the drug. And so it really does kind of spread out like *** web of crime and some light on our community. And and again at the beginning of my remarks, I want to, I want to remind everyone that the eating place that was the regional hub for all of this drug trafficking going on was right up the street from an elementary schoolhouse where Children are going. And so that the blazon of fierce activity and illicit action that goes to drug trafficking is literally right up the road from an elementary school where our Children are going where people'south kids are going. And then it's really scary to me. Um, and I'one thousand certain these folks could probably tell y'all far more horror stories that if we don't commencement aggressively doing what were we don't go along to do what nosotros're doing, it's, information technology'southward only going to proliferate. And and so that's why back to the question was asked over hither is that we promise that this will be ***, have *** deterrent effect. This is an ongoing investigation. We're, we haven't finished our jobs withal, but this is *** major milestone and nosotros want to recognize it to the public. When you say it's *** regional hub, could y'all put into perspective how the size of this operation compares or falls along the tree and when it comes to the Yes. Well obviously Atlanta Georgia is, is the *** major region regional hub in the southeast region. But from what I've been told the upstate area where, where this was actually happening has had become its own regional hub. I hateful plainly it led dorsum to *** bust of stash houses in Atlanta Georgia. Merely the upstate and final year nosotros had some other major k jury of sting Um, where you lot know, every bit as I talked virtually earlier, where drugs are just pouring in over our border. And so the upstate has get *** hub. When you lot look at the I-85 corridor from Charlotte to Atlanta, obviously information technology's an artery for this type of illicit action. And I'm not proverb it'due south not happening in other places in our state and obviously information technology's happening all of our other states that border united states of america. Just you lot know, I don't know if mike did you want to talk almost addressing her question equally to Atlanta has *** ring or as *** hub? Happy to to answer your question how this organization fits into the overall construction that's still under overall investigation. Simply to *** 1000 Wilson'southward signal, uh, Atlanta is the major distribution hub. Yet, you tin consider places like the upstate franchisees of *** dare if y'all will, where they ready shop nether the guise, under the management and control in many times of major players in Atlanta and more importantly, cartel leaders and members in Mexico who are directing the distribution and sale of of these narcotics. And so information technology'south *** major win overall and taking off some major people who take pregnant transnational ties to these illicit organizations? Yes, nosotros have. So the cartel that we believe is primarily involved in this is La Familia Mutual Con *** well known, very trigger-happy cartel that's operated for many years in Mexico. Exercise yous all expect more arrests to be fabricated in this case? This is an ongoing investigation. I don't want to make. Don't wanna mismanaged expectations or project annihilation, but information technology is an ongoing investigation and we're not gonna cease until we've gotten to the conclusion PJ Wilson. Can you speak your conviction rates? You talked about the by cases and older the past arrest that y'all made. Can you speak to *** conviction rate on, on those, those two specific cases there awaiting trial right now. I mean, that's *** lot of that's *** lot of cases. *** lot of defendants in between those 2 cases and now this case. Then yeah, they, they have been indicted and nosotros are, I guess medico it'd, I guess Creighton If yous desire to talk about the timing. Yeah, I mean every example is dissimilar. Um, and prison house empire and rocket fuel only came out fairly recently. Um, but generally, um, and information technology may have some time, but generally, uh, land grand jury indictments end upward with defendants beingness convicted close to 100% in the past few years. It does accept time. We had one recently, uh, this was in *** case called Graceland. This individual was *** prison leader who had been running meth as well, which is *** very common thing. Y'all've heard the refrain from many people up here about contraband cellphones and how so much of our gang activity or narcotics activity traces back to people who have already been put in prison for the same thing. And why are they able to do information technology Because they have unfortunate admission to contraband cellphones. And uh, and we had 1 individual get 40 years consecutive um, on top of the xx some odd years that he'due south currently serving. Nosotros had another case here recently in blueish magic. We were talking well-nigh fentaNYL uh, and how mortiferous it is in that particular case. What was being trafficked was fake oxyCODONE pills that were laced with fentaNYL and the problem with those is is that people get used to thinking *** pill is *** pill is *** pill and it's all the same affair, simply all information technology takes is for the bathroom chemist to put *** little also much fentaNYL which is extremely potent on *** pill. And all the Narcan in the county tin't relieve you lot. Uh And so I I liken it to playing Russian roulette. The reality is there'southward so much fentaNYL out at that place on elevation of the methamphetamine and the cocaine uh and it is existence put in about everything. And and so anytime you take any illicit substance, you're really playing Russian roulette, Information technology's as simple as that. Would you explain the kind of the restaurants merely open public facing place in the community, I mean, was it *** popular place to eat or could you lot kind of explain how it managed? It'south in *** strip mall and it was, it was just *** mexican eating house like any other, it'due south just that in that location was more you could get in the styrofoam clamshells than just burritos and tacos. Accept you all been able to trace any particular aspect of this functioning or drug trafficking to hither in the Midlands surface area? Right, well, I would say that when dope comes into south Carolina, I hateful inevitably somebody sells it to somebody and somebody sells it to somebody and somewhen uh you know, the effects of dope coming into s Carolina probably makes its style into almost every community throughout the state. But in this detail case, uh, the firsthand consequence that nosotros were able to meet and the dope that was seized in this particular example was focused in the upstate. Nevertheless, as y'all've heard, um, you know, we practise know from the investigation that it has an declared issue beyond simply the upstate throughout due south Carolina and in fact through the region. Thank you. Great. All right. Okay. Well, I want, I want to thank all of you for playing your part, um, for telling stories, um, to our corresponding communities about what these folks are out there doing. Our work is not washed, but we're gonna proceed to button on, push on and we'll expect forrard to seeing you at the next one of these types of announcements. And I hope you guys take *** wonderful 24-hour interval. So cheers so much. Give thanks you. That'south information technology.
Greenville eating place served every bit hub for cocaine and meth trafficking operation, AG says
An Upstate restaurant served as a regional hub through which cocaine and methamphetamine were allegedly trafficked to other states, co-ordinate to South Carolina Chaser Full general Alan Wilson.Wilson announced Wednesday that the S Carolina Chiliad Jury has issued indictments in a drug trafficking example known as "Los Banditos." (Sentinel the full news conference about the case above) The indictments currently unsealed in the investigation collectively contain 124 charges against 34 defendants, according to a release from Wilson's office. The investigation alleges much of the drug trafficking was run and facilitated past the owners of the Los Primos restaurant located in Greenville."This major drug trafficking band was anything only unbelievable," 13th Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said.The drugs were allegedly trafficked throughout the State of Due south Carolina, but by and large in the Upstate, the indictments say.Wilkins says drugs are flowing into Greenville County and the surrounding expanse at the highest level he's ever seen."Information technology is much more significant," Wilkins said. "At that place'south much more book flowing into our communities. It's much more organized, as seen in this case. Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine were pumping into Greenville Canton." According to the news release, many of the drugs were allegedly trafficked right out of the restaurant, while more than were allegedly trafficked out of taco trucks owned by the owners of the restaurant. This eatery would eventually serve as a regional hub through which cocaine and methamphetamine were allegedly trafficked to other states, the release said. "Historically through this drug trafficking performance, we accounted for over 1,000 kilos of methamphetamine being trafficked here in S Carolina," Wilson said. "That has a street value of over $75 million." It said the investigation revealed alleged connections to Mexican drug trafficking cartels operating in Southward Carolina and Georgia."The cartel we believe is primarily involved in this is La Familia," Homeland Security Deputy Special Agent Mike Prado said. "A well-known, very violent cartel that'due south operated for many years in Mexico." To date, the Los Banditos investigation has seized in South Carolina most xi kilograms of methamphetamine, 584 grams of cocaine, approximately $63,000 in cash, and over 20 firearms. Officials said 584 grams is equal to 1.288 pounds.The release said the investigation has revealed the conspiracy has historically accounted for over 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, 100 kilograms of cocaine, and 2 kilograms of heroin trafficked throughout the State of Due south Carolina. Wilson says the Upstate has get a franchisee of Atlanta, which he says is a drug trafficking hub in the Southeast."The Upstate has become a hub," Wilson said. "When you look at the I-85 corridor from Charlotte to Atlanta, obviously it'south an artery for this type of illicit activity." Additionally, the release said information gathered in the Los Banditos Country K Jury investigation led to the seizure past Georgia and federal authorities from several apartments and stash houses in Atlanta of approximately 200 kilos of methamphetamine, 3.5 kilos of cocaine, 3.2 kilos of heroin, v ounces of cocaine mixed with fentanyl, 183 pounds of marijuana, 900 Xanax pills, and multiple firearms. A substantial portion of those seized drugs was allegedly intended for South Carolina, it said. "If you engage in this illicit blazon of activity, drug trafficking, you lot're going to eventually get busted and we're going to put you away," Wilson said.Bail hearings for some of the defendants occurred on Mon before the Honorable Alison Renee Lee in her virtual courtroom. "The Attorney General's Office and SLED are committed to fight the corrosive result drug trafficking has on our communities," Wilson said. "This investigation is nonetheless some other example of aggressive utilize of the State Grand Jury and investigative techniques to combat gangs and drug trafficking. Just as importantly, it is a further example of our apply of the Land G Jury to partner country prosecutorial and law enforcement resources with county, local, and federal agencies. The cooperation with our Upstate partners – both local and federal – was particularly successful in this example, and this Role looks forward to continuing to synch its efforts with the hard piece of work and expertise of all the agencies involved."Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said: "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 Customs and arrested some of its worst drug dealers. While this organization has ties from United mexican states to numerous cities in the U.s., its drug trafficking efforts and locations in Greenville County were standing to pump toxicant directly into our communities. This is a great win for the citizens of Greenville County and these numerous arrests will have an immediate and direct impact upon the citizens of Greenville County and neighboring Counties."The cases volition be prosecuted by the State Grand Jury Section of the Attorney General's Office and the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office.
An Upstate restaurant served as a regional hub through which cocaine and methamphetamine were allegedly trafficked to other states, co-ordinate to Southward Carolina Chaser Full general Alan Wilson.
Wilson announced Wednesday that the S Carolina G Jury has issued indictments in a drug trafficking case known as "Los Banditos."
(Watch the full news briefing well-nigh the case above)
The indictments currently unsealed in the investigation collectively contain 124 charges against 34 defendants, according to a release from Wilson'south office.
The investigation alleges much of the drug trafficking was run and facilitated by the owners of the Los Primos eating place located in Greenville.
"This major drug trafficking band was annihilation but unbelievable," 13th Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said.
The drugs were allegedly trafficked throughout the State of South Carolina, but mostly in the Upstate, the indictments say.
Wilkins says drugs are flowing into Greenville County and the surrounding area at the highest level he'southward ever seen.
"It is much more significant," Wilkins said. "There'south much more book flowing into our communities. It'due south much more organized, as seen in this case. Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine were pumping into Greenville County."
According to the news release, many of the drugs were allegedly trafficked right out of the restaurant, while more than were allegedly trafficked out of taco trucks owned by the owners of the restaurant.
This restaurant would somewhen serve as a regional hub through which cocaine and methamphetamine were allegedly trafficked to other states, the release said.
"Historically through this drug trafficking operation, we accounted for over ane,000 kilos of methamphetamine being trafficked here in S Carolina," Wilson said. "That has a street value of over $75 one thousand thousand."
It said the investigation revealed alleged connections to Mexican drug trafficking cartels operating in Southward Carolina and Georgia.
"The cartel we believe is primarily involved in this is La Familia," Homeland Security Deputy Special Amanuensis Mike Prado said. "A well-known, very violent cartel that'due south operated for many years in Mexico."
To date, the Los Banditos investigation has seized in South Carolina almost 11 kilograms of methamphetamine, 584 grams of cocaine, approximately $63,000 in cash, and over 20 firearms. Officials said 584 grams is equal to 1.288 pounds.
The release said the investigation has revealed the conspiracy has historically accounted for over 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, 100 kilograms of cocaine, and 2 kilograms of heroin trafficked throughout the Country of S Carolina.
Wilson says the Upstate has become a franchisee of Atlanta, which he says is a drug trafficking hub in the Southeast.
"The Upstate has get a hub," Wilson said. "When you look at the I-85 corridor from Charlotte to Atlanta, patently it's an avenue for this type of illicit action."
Additionally, the release said data gathered in the Los Banditos Country Grand Jury investigation led to the seizure by Georgia and federal authorities from several apartments and stash houses in Atlanta of approximately 200 kilos of methamphetamine, 3.5 kilos of cocaine, 3.2 kilos of heroin, 5 ounces of cocaine mixed with fentanyl, 183 pounds of marijuana, 900 Xanax pills, and multiple firearms.
A substantial portion of those seized drugs was allegedly intended for Due south Carolina, it said.
"If you engage in this illicit type of action, drug trafficking, you lot're going to eventually get busted and we're going to put you abroad," Wilson said.
Bond hearings for some of the defendants occurred on Mon before the Honorable Alison Renee Lee in her virtual courtroom.
"The Attorney General's Office and SLED are committed to fight the corrosive effect drug trafficking has on our communities," Wilson said. "This investigation is notwithstanding another example of aggressive utilize of the State G Jury and investigative techniques to combat gangs and drug trafficking. Just as importantly, information technology is a further case of our use of the State K Jury to partner land prosecutorial and law enforcement resources with county, local, and federal agencies. The cooperation with our Upstate partners – both local and federal – was particularly successful in this case, and this Part looks forward to standing to synch its efforts with the hard work and expertise of all the agencies involved."
Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said: "This was a very large-scale organized drug performance that allegedly was trafficking kilograms of drugs every week into Greenville County. The hard work and dedication of the Greenville Drug Enforcement Unit of measurement, SLED, and the South Carolina State 1000 Jury has significantly decreased the availability of drugs in the Greenville Community and arrested some of its worst drug dealers. While this organization has ties from United mexican states to numerous cities in the United States, its drug trafficking efforts and locations in Greenville Canton were standing to pump toxicant directly into our communities. This is a great win for the citizens of Greenville County and these numerous arrests will have an firsthand and direct impact upon the citizens of Greenville County and neighboring Counties."
The cases will be prosecuted past the State 1000 Jury Department of the Attorney Full general'due south Office and the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor's Office.
Source: https://www.wyff4.com/article/los-promis-greenville-drug-trafficking-indictments/40035244
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