Also Hampton county had 388 overdoses and 15 deaths in one year that seems really high for a county of 19,000 people. With each trip, Barry and Les learned more about the smuggling business. Charleston Cutter James offloads $1.4B in illegal drugs, the largest in Between February 1, 2021, and December 14, 2022, law enforcement seized over 25 kilograms of methamphetamine (with a street value of approximately $800,000) and 30 guns as part of this investigation. After college, Les moved to Key West and started a landscaping business, cutting grass for $5. A man has been arrested for a major drug bust in Rutherford County, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. Typical agency turf wars were not allowed; anyone who refused to play nice was excused from the team. 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. Last week, deputies seized over 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 10 biggest drug busts in U.S. history. In a statement released jointly by the National Sheriff's Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, Western States Sheriffs' Association, Southwestern Border Sheriffs' Coalition, and Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, the groups asserted "that the two main drivers of illicit drugs leading to overdoses and violence into the U.S. are Sinaloa But these moms believe getting some of the big fish off the street could save the lives of many. Investigators have also seized 20 kilograms of meth, 5 kilos of heroin, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, and 82 firearms. They reportedly were part of a drug trafficking organization that operating in Pickens, Greenville, Laurens, Anderson, and Oconee Counties. With that, Barrys career as a drug smuggler launched, and he enjoyed legendary status among Columbias marijuana enthusiasts. National. You didnt have any last words. Thank you for your service. 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. Also important were the right boats: some were made for blue water (long term, open sea) sailing; some were not. Theres no way theyd have the gumption to kill Maggie and Paul. I believe it was his girlfriend, Morgan Doughty, that said he used cocaine on multiple occasions during her sworn deposition. Ten other defendants are currently in prison. A drug hit would not be carried out by the local crew, local boys are just the corner guys, there would be 10 more levels up if not more before you get to the head of the Snake. Now, 13 years after the last Gentleman Smuggler was sentenced, they are all out of prison. He walked in and stood in front of Barts desk. Man who sent videos of adults sexually abusing infants to FBI agent sentenced to 19 years, Questions mount about how John Fetterman was allegedly able to pen letter with fellow Democrats while under supervision for depression in hospital, Thug breaks through child's bedroom window in middle of night but Dad gets whole family out of home, grabs machete, and takes hack at crook, Newly released footage shows horrific moment a suspect fleeing police in stolen vehicle smashed into a sedan, bringing down a building. According to the release, the investigation in total from both locations seized large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine including some mixed with fentanyl, marijuana, xanax, multiple firearms, and $63,000. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Nine people are facing federal charges after a major drug bust in the Hollywood area of southern Charleston County. Published: Oct. 24, 2022 at 3:06 AM PDT | Updated: Oct. 24, 2022 at 6:55 AM PDT YORK COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. According to authorities, six of the . Tolson said the amount of fentanyl recovered in the bust was enough to kill every person in York County. 7-year-old baseball umpire seeks Guinness World Record. When I saw the address come up we knew people that used to live on that road. All these kids have had other friends that have died, said Alsobrooks. Recent bookings, Arrests, Mugshots in South Carolina - Recently Booked 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. They were executed with premeditation. Politics. Last week, deputies seized more than 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. No way drug dealers did this imo . This is the second drug bust along I-95 in Nash County this week. In time, the drug trade grew crowded in South Florida. Pinch the little fish to get info on the big fish. We invite thought provoking exchanges while sharing facts from reliable sources and discussing distinguished theories and speculation while showing the utmost consideration and respect for the victims and being mindful of due process. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. 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. But, by pooling their collective expertise, they were an extraordinarily effective weapon against drug smuggling. Les Riley lives on Seabrook Island. [1] Known as the 'gentlemen smugglers' because of their college educations and aversion to violence, Foy, Riley and their associates regularly sailed drug-laden boats from Jamaica, Colombia and Lebanon through the marshes of the Eastern Seaboard. David and Chuck fed questions to her for the kingpin and used the information to set a trap. So far, law enforcement has only publicly said that a large amount of marijuana was discovered at a residence on Canal Street drive in Columbia, S.C. along with cash and a firearm. YORK COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. . One of President Reagans earliest actions, on recommendation of Sen. Strom Thurmond, was to appoint Henry McMaster as South Carolinas United States attorney. South Carolina. FBI Columbia: Nine indicted on drug trafficking charges Half-ton of cocaine seized aboard yacht docked on resort island Now it's closing after donors sent school a big message. 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! 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. Feds charge 9 with drug charges after 2-year investigation - Live 5 News Those involved are allegedly in a drug ring associated with Mexican cartels, state officials said. The agents deserve all the credit, says Bart Daniel of the task force. 2023 Blaze Media LLC. Bob Byers died in 2004. Unfortunately, Columbia police did not immediately respond to these inquiries and news of the arrests broke Sunday afternoon in The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier. Email him at mark@fitsnews.com. Barry and Les decided to look for a quieter entry point for their product. His upbringing was typical of the South, with plenty of time spent hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. 'Operation Jackpot' indicts 40 - UPI Archives South Carolina's Operation Jackpot broke new ground for civil asset |, All of these experiences relate to the astounding volume of marijuana and hashish smuggled into South Carolina by the so-called Gentlemen Smugglers with a street value, in todays dollars, of $1.8 billion. Still, they had the added challenge of crossing oceans and, in the case of Lebanon, interrupting a civil war that had been raging for five years. Police from the Lee County sheriff's office, in coordination with South Carolina correctional authorities, made the busts following an eight-month investigation into the rings, which used drones to make late-night deliveries of contraband to the prison. Will Folksis the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. 'In layman's terms, this is enough cocaine for every man, woman, and child in South Carolina to get high at least one time,' he said. "When you look at the I-85 corridor from Charlotte to Atlanta, obviously its an artery for this type of illicit activity.. For those who want the full story of this local legend, Jackpot is a something-for-everyone kind of tale. He was a dedicated father, public servant and friend. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? 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. South Carolina. After brief attempts at college, first at Newberry College and then at USC, Barry began selling marijuana in Five Points. 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. The case is referred to as "Prison Empire," one of the state's largest narcotics conspiracy investigations ever indicted. Politics. Les bought a home on Hilton Head, as well as other property, and used it for offloading his merchandise. 9 arrested after drug bust in Greenwood County, deputies say - WHNS As a member of the BSO Homicide Unit, Sgt. March 3 (UPI) -- A sheep spotted wandering loose on a British highway was given a lift back to its owner by a concerned bus driver on her first day on the job. So when she sees the huge spread of the same drug that killed her child on a sheriffs office table instead of someones system, she is hopeful but cautious. When that happened, the task force only had to call on Henry, who bulldozed through any problem using the considerable political power at his disposal. Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? He has other friends that have died as well. First Published: 1:00 PM PDT, May 19, 2022 Officials seized paraphernalia in South Carolina and Georgia, leading to 34 individuals facing charges. Information from the Los Banditos investigation was used to make another bust in Atlanta, where authorities seized approximately 200 kilos (441 pounds) of methamphetamine, 3.5 kilos (7.7 pounds) of cocaine, 3.2 kilos (7 pounds) of heroin, 5 ounces of cocaine mixed with fentanyl, 183 pounds of marijuana, 900 Xanax pills, and multiple firearms from stash houses in apartments, the attorney general's office said. The story is utterly fantastic, with a list of villains so long one has trouble keeping up with them all. According to Governor McMaster, The task force decided to use that publicity to let them know we were coming. Some smugglers quickly surrendered or were easily arrested and took plea deals in exchange for testifying against their co-defendants. Got a tip for a story? 'For the most part, these drugs were not headed for South Carolina,' he said. 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 association was arrested along with a relative last week on multiple drug charges. Among those arrested on drug-trafficking and conspiracy charges were three Hilton Head Island residents and five Colombians. Thanks to a corrupt jailer, Bob later escaped from a Charleston County jail and disappeared. 'In layman's terms, this is enough cocaine for . Possession of drug paraphernalia charge; $95,000 secure bond; . North Carolina. An eight-month investigation at a South Carolina prison has resulted in the confiscation of more than 100 pounds of contraband and 20 arrests, the state's department of corrections announced . 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. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu. Drug Bust: Latest News, Photos, Videos on Drug Bust - NDTV.COM The trucks run by Mexican restaurant Los Primos. He was joined at a news conference in Columbia by S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) chief Mark Keel and other authorities. They dont want you to see this Big Tech does its best to limit what news you see. Cam Currie, Bob Jendron, and David Forbes traveled to Australia to meet with authorities there and explain the severity of the charges against the men. Investigators alleged the drug operation was linked to a Mexican drug cartel. That is certainly what it would seem like. FITSNews - One of the hottest rumors in Hampton county, | Facebook 5, 2022 at 7:26 PM EDT . I highly suggest you watch Mandy Matneys Murdaugh Murders Podcast - especially those about Alexs possible connection to drugs smuggling along the east coast. March 3 (UPI) -- A Kentucky man who stopped to buy some breakfast said he lost his appetite when he won $50,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket. The investigation, asset seizures, defendant arrests, and trials were full of extraordinary tales and consumed the lives of task force members for four years. The first of three trials began in Charleston before U.S. District Court Judge Falcon B. Hawkins, Jr., even while asset seizures, indictments, and arrest efforts continued with the other smugglers. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We need to bring awareness to this issue, that drug dealers are not dealing drugs anymore. What is the talk on the street? Large drug bust in Hampton County (for those of you who believe drugs played a role in the murders). SLED agent Robert Stewart and Bart Daniel also traveled to Australia while the case was being appealed. So they are applauding the work, knowing much more work needs done. While it was a more lucrative product, cocaine smugglers invariably toted automatic weapons. Its much more organized, as seen in this case. Many of the drugs were allegedly trafficked out of the restaurant, and also out of taco trucks owned by the restaurant, officials said. According to a news. He was an assistant United States attorney at the time. The Delhi Police on Wednesday destroyed over 2,800 kgs of . 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. They learned they could make more money if they obtained their product from Colombia rather than Jamaica. 3 charged after over 20 pounds of methamphetamine seized in Spartanburg Co. One of South Carolina's largest drug smuggling bust News, news, seriousness, tension(1077866) - Lyrebirds music. That is apparently the maximum for the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl drug charges. 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. In 1971, they asked Barry and another hotel guest to sail to Jamaica to bring back 400 pounds of marijuana. News 19 reports that much of the operation was in the Upstate counties. Updated: Oct. 29, 2020 at 4:30 PM PDT. Banned items included crack cocaine, knives, tobacco, guns, phones, and even candy. 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.