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A major South Carolina drug cartel bust has led to 108 arrests and 380 indictments as part of the state’s “Devil in Disguise” investigation into fentanyl and associated overdoses. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson made the announcement on May 19 during a news conference.
Officials recovered four grams of fentanyl, 10 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 44 kilograms of cocaine during the investigation. Also seized were multiple firearms and $1 million in cash. Bond hearings for those indicted are scheduled to take place later at the Richland County Courthouse.
Wilson discussed how Mexican cartel organizations and groups members already in the United States coordinate drug shipments across the border. He noted that local officials at the Texas southern border said the drug crossings reached a peak in the summer of 2024.
However, Wilson praised the current Trump administration for shutting down the border. He repeated that state law enforcement will continue to aggressively fight drug traffickers with all available resources.
Wilson concluded by discussing Senate Bill 156, which created a new offense under state law referred to as fentanyl induced homicide. Any person who knowingly provides fentanyl to another person that leads to their death via fentanyl ingestion can be prosecuted. The charge carries up to 30 years of prison time. Wilson believes the law gives prosecutors an important tool for charging members of the South Carolina drug cartel when their drugs cause fatalities.
