Feds Uncover Prison-Based Drug Ring Tied to Mexican Cartel
Federal authorities bust a drug trafficking network operating from South Carolina prisons, linked to the Sinaloa cartel.
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The U.S. Department of Justice has charged over a dozen individuals in a sprawling drug trafficking operation tied to the Sinaloa cartel, which has been operating from South Carolina prisons since at least 2011. The scheme, revealed during a Tuesday announcement by U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling, involves prisoners coordinating drug deals with suppliers in Mexico using contraband cell phones.
Drug Trafficking From Inside Prisons
According to the indictment unsealed on Tuesday, prisoners in the South Carolina Department of Corrections used contraband cell phones to communicate with drug suppliers in Mexico. These communications facilitated the shipment and delivery of narcotics, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, through stash houses and couriers in the Midlands region of South Carolina.
Stirling emphasized that this issue has persisted for over a decade, with individuals arrested for drug crimes continuing their illegal activities from within prison walls. The operation has expanded beyond South Carolina, with drug deals now spanning into the Carolinas.
Major Seizures and Assets Confiscated
Federal agents, including the DEA, seized significant quantities of illicit drugs during the investigation. Over 346 kilograms of fentanyl, 23 kilograms of methamphetamine, 70 kilograms of cocaine, and 34 pounds of marijuana were confiscated, along with 43 firearms and more than $2.8 million in cash. The drugs were transported across the southern border, according to prosecutors.
In addition to the drug seizures, investigators also confiscated 15 luxury vehicles, including two Rolls Royces, a Lamborghini, and an Aston Martin, which were linked to the suspected drug and money laundering operation. Prosecutors also placed liens on 17 properties in South Carolina and Georgia that are believed to be tied to the criminal enterprise.
Collaboration of Law Enforcement Agencies
The investigation was carried out by multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations, with support from law enforcement agencies in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Stirling also urged the FCC to adopt proposed regulations that would allow the jamming of contraband cell phone service at federal and state prisons.
Attorney General Todd Blanche reiterated the Trump administration’s commitment to combating drug trafficking, stating that the Department of Justice will continue dismantling such networks to protect American citizens.
Source: Daily Wire
