DOJ Charges 36 in South Carolina Fentanyl Ring: 346kg Seized
The Justice Department charged 36 people in a Mexico-linked fentanyl ring in South Carolina, seizing 346kg of fentanyl, 43 firearms and over $2.8 million.
Image: Wikimedia Commons / G. Edward Johnson (CC BY 4.0)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday, November 10, that 36 people have been charged in a multi-state drug trafficking and money laundering investigation into a Mexico-based organisation operating in South Carolina since at least 2011. Agents seized 346 kilograms of fentanyl, 70 kilograms of cocaine, 23 kilograms of methamphetamine, 34 pounds of marijuana, 43 firearms and more than $2.8 million, the department said.
U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling announced the charges in Columbia. The Drug Enforcement Administration-led investigation under the Homeland Security Task Force found a fentanyl network across the Lowcountry, the Pee Dee, the Grand Strand and the Midlands, with arrests in 16 counties. Nine of the 36 are in the country illegally, according to the department.
- 36 charged across three indictments; nine in the country illegally; six have pleaded guilty.
- Seizures: 346kg of fentanyl, 70kg of cocaine, 23kg of methamphetamine, 34 pounds of marijuana, 43 firearms and more than $2.8 million.
- The Mexico-based organisation has operated in South Carolina since at least 2011 and has direct ties to the Sinaloa Cartel, the Drug Enforcement Administration says.
- The case was run under the Homeland Security Task Force, with 29 law enforcement agencies taking part.
How Much Fentanyl Was Seized in the South Carolina Drug Bust?
Investigators also seized 15 luxury vehicles, including two Rolls-Royces, a Lamborghini and an Aston Martin, and 17 properties the department said are worth $4 million.
| Item seized | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fentanyl | 346 kilograms |
| Cocaine | 70 kilograms |
| Methamphetamine | 23 kilograms |
| Marijuana | 34 pounds |
| Firearms | 43 |
| Cash and jewellery | More than $2.8 million |
| Luxury vehicles | 15 |
| Properties | 17, worth $4 million |
Two truck drivers were charged in a July 2025 indictment in what prosecutors called the largest fentanyl seizure in South Carolina history; both have pleaded guilty and been sentenced.
Who Was Charged in the South Carolina Fentanyl Case?
An April 2026 indictment charged 18 members, and a 42-count superseding indictment unsealed in November charged 16 more. The department said the organisation was active in Mexico, South Carolina and other states, including inside federal and state prisons. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike O'Mara and Cole Shannon are prosecuting the case.
“For every criminal charged, even more law enforcement agents and officers were working to put a stop to the illegal drug trafficking and money laundering targeting our communities.” — U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling
The Drug Enforcement Administration's Michael Tooley said the organisation has direct ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. The nine defendants the department says are in the country illegally were charged as the administration's deportation policy remains a central political fight.
What Is the Homeland Security Task Force Behind the Bust?
The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159. The department describes the task force as a whole-of-government partnership aimed at cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organisations and human smuggling and trafficking rings.
At least 29 agencies took part, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI's Columbia Field Office. The case is part of a wider enforcement push at the southern border, where the Supreme Court recently allowed Texas to continue building a border wall.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in South Carolina announced the charges; the Justice Department has seen a fourth senior official resign this year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people were charged in the South Carolina fentanyl bust?
Thirty-six people were charged across three indictments: two in July 2025, 18 in April 2026 and 16 in a 42-count superseding indictment unsealed in November 2026. Six have pleaded guilty; nine are in the country illegally, per the department.
Is the South Carolina fentanyl ring linked to a Mexican cartel?
Yes, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The agency's Michael Tooley said the Mexico-based organisation has direct ties to the Sinaloa Cartel. Investigators say it has supplied South Carolina with hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine since at least 2021.
How long had the South Carolina drug ring been operating?
The department said the Mexico-based organisation has operated in South Carolina since at least 2011. It has supplied the state with fentanyl and cocaine since at least 2021, across the Lowcountry, Pee Dee, Grand Strand and Midlands.
What happens next in the South Carolina fentanyl case?
An indictment is only an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. The department has not yet said when the remaining defendants will make their first court appearances, or how many remain at large.
