Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit /photo
More than 10 pounds of drugs with a street value of over $1 million and one weapon were seized with one arrest made at last Thursday by the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU).
The drugs seized were a combination of fentanyl, tramadol, and other unidentified drug powders.
Last Thursday, 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.
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 p.m., 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, was alerted by DEU investigators and intercepted the vehicle.
DEU investigators searched the vehicle and located more than 10 pounds of narcotics 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 an unidentified substance.
“This is one of the largest drug seizures of fentanyl and tramadol to have occurred in Greenville County,” McEntire said. “This seizure illustrates how drug traffickers continue to mix powders in various concentrations that can cause death.
The 5 kilos seized were being reported to be heroin when in actuality the drugs were something completely different, McEntire reported. “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,” McEntire said.
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 Chairperson of the DEU Board said.
The investigation is active and the name of the person arrested has not been released. “We do know several individuals are involved and are hopeful the investigation leads to additional arrests in the future,” Hamilton said.