Million Dollar Greenville County Drug Bust

Law Enforcement Seizes Drugs with a Street Value of More than $1 Million A multistate investigation involving more than two dozen law enforcement officers led to the seizure of more than 10 pounds of drugs with a street value of over $1 million dollars. Bart McEntire, the Commander of the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) announced the more than 10 pounds of drugs seized were a combination of fentanyl, tramadol, and other unidentified drug powders. On November 12, 2020, The DEU, supported by the SC Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Greenville DEA Field Office, initiated an investigation into a multi-state drug operation reported to be distributing 5 kilos of heroin into Greenville County. On Thursday, Investigators worked around the clock preparing to interdict the large shipment of drugs. Law enforcement officers were staged at multiple points across Greenville County waiting on a vehicle to arrive into Greenville County. At approximately 11 PM, law enforcement officers observed the vehicle reported to be transporting the drugs arrive at a

public location near Haywood Road. The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Directed Patrol Unit, were alerted by DEU investigators and intercepted the vehicle. DEU investigators searched the vehicle and located more than 10 pounds of narcoti

cs pressed into 5 kilo bricks in the vehicle along with a firearm. Preliminary laboratory results of the kilos have identified the kilos as being pressed powder forms of fentanyl, tramadol, and at this time an unidentified substance. GREENVILLE COUNTY MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL DRUG ENFORCEMENT UNIT Press Release Commander McEntire states “this is one of the largest drug seizures of fentanyl and tramadol to have occurred in Greenville County. This seizure illustrates how drug traffickers continue to mix powders in various concentrations that can cause death. These dealers in death advertise their products under street

names of heroin, methamphetamine, or other common drug slang terms. In this case, the 5 kilos seized were being reported to be heroin when in actuality the drugs were something completely different. If these drugs had made its way to users in Greenville County, we could have expected to have seen several users become the next overdose victim and potentially they could have died. The kilo mixtures was secreted in five vacuum sealed bags with each bag containing approximately 2.2 pounds of fentanyl and/or tramadol. Tramadol is a narcotic substance used to treat moderate to severe pain with the ability to cause seizures if taken in high doses. Fentanyl, an opioid narcotic, can kill someone using a dose the size of a pencil

head. It is a highly dangerous and addictive drug”” Michael Hamilton, Fountain Inn Police Chief and current Chairperson of the DEU Board added, “The DEU was formed for the specific purpose of targeting these types of drug organizations. Law enforcement agencies across Greenville County have witnessed the devastating and destructiveness that illicit drugs have on our communities. The DEU Board, consisting of Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis, Solicitor Walt Wilkins, Chiefs of Police Michael Hanshaw (Simpsonville), Bryan Turner (Mauldin), Ben Ford (Travelers Rest) , Matthew Hamby (Greer), and mys

elf fully support DEU and will continue to back its impact on combatting drug trafficking in Greenville County. The DEU will continue to be undeterred in its efforts to combat drug trafficking. DEU prevented thousands of dosages of a very dangerous and life ending drug from reaching our communities and I commend the efforts of DEA, as well as, all of the law enforcement agencies involved who made this happen.” “The investigation involves multi-states and is still under investigation by the DEU, Commander McEntire informed. Because of the continuing investigation, we will at this time withhold the name of the person arrested to protect the ongoing investigation. We do know several individuals are involved and are hopeful the investigation leads to additional arrests in the future.”