Cartel Networks in South Carolina (Open-Source Intelligence Report)
Ring I: Upstate (Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson Counties)
Cartel Presence & Traffickers: Mexican cartels have established distribution nodes in Upstate South Carolina, primarily for methamphetamine and other drugs. A multi-county investigation codenamed “Las Señoritas” uncovered a large meth trafficking ring (2021–2023) spanning Greenville, Laurens, Anderson, Pickens, and Oconee counties . Over two dozen suspects in this network coordinated with inmates in state prison (via contraband cell phones) to source meth from Mexico and distribute it across the Upstate . Notably, two dealers even rented Airbnb houses in Greenville to serve as transient stash houses for drug sales . Law enforcement seized >$800,000 worth of meth and 39 firearms during the probe , and several ringleaders fled to Mexico to evade arrest – indicating direct cartel affiliations. In a related case, an imprisoned gang leader in Spartanburg (Jonathan Sarratt) was caught orchestrating the delivery of 250 kg of Mexican meth to Upstate dealers from behind bars , underscoring the cartel’s use of local intermediaries and even incarcerated facilitators.
Financial Channels: While Upstate trafficking operations focused on drug distribution, some defendants were also charged with money laundering, suggesting local attempts to clean drug profits . However, most laundering in this region appears ad-hoc (e.g. purchases of vehicles or property) rather than complex schemes. Bulk cash smuggling is a likely method for moving profits southward along Interstate 85 – for example, one associate of a Sumter-based cell was caught in 2024 trying to smuggle $180,000 in cash, indicating bulk cash couriers operate along SC highways . Upstate traffickers also used financial transactions like electronic payments to facilitate deals (one Greenville suspect pleaded guilty to a “Financial Transaction from Drug Proceeds” charge) . Thus far, no major Upstate-based shell companies or cartel-controlled businesses have been publicly identified; instead, proceeds were likely funneled back to Mexican sources through cash drops or routed into larger laundering networks outside the region.
Notable Arrests (2018–2025): Federal and state operations in the Upstate have nabbed several mid-level traffickers tied to Mexican sources. In late 2023, Sergio Magallan-Tinoco – a Mexican national from Michoacán – was arrested in Spartanburg after multiple controlled buys of fentanyl and cocaine; a raid on his residence yielded additional fentanyl, cocaine, cash counters, and a firearm . Magallan-Tinoco was held responsible for trafficking 20 kilograms of cocaine and has a prior drug conviction, suggesting direct supply links to a cartel pipeline . He received a 15-year federal sentence in 2024 . Dozens of local dealers in the “Las Señoritas” case pleaded guilty in state court in 2023, with sentences up to 20 years . Their convictions (for meth trafficking, conspiracy, and money laundering) confirm that Mexican cartels were the ultimate suppliers of methamphetamine flooding the Upstate . These cases illustrate how cartel narcotics (meth, cocaine, fentanyl) are distributed in Upstate SC by local networks of varying composition – from freelance dealers to street gang members – who in turn funnel profits and information back to Mexican organized crime.
Protection & Local Gangs:
In Upstate South Carolina, Mexican cartels do not maintain large on-the-ground contingents of their own operatives. Instead, they rely on localized criminal networks to execute distribution. Chief among these are multi-ethnic street gangs—such as subsets of the Gangster Disciples—whose decentralized structures and embedded presence in low-income zones make them ideal proxies for narcotics flow.
Outlaw motorcycle clubs, often mischaracterized in media narratives, have historically appeared at the margins of such operations. However, their involvement is better understood as incidental or individualistic rather than organizational. Club culture, highly sensitive to law enforcement scrutiny and visibility, generally eschews centralized criminal enterprise. Members may navigate the underworld terrain as intermediaries or cultural interlocutors, but not as cartel partners in any strategic sense. Where interaction exists, it is more often rooted in shared geography or mutual situational awareness than in active conspiracy.
The recent methamphetamine ring disrupted in the Upstate bore no national gang affiliation. Its connection with incarcerated inmates for command and control suggests alliance with gang-affiliated prison networks for encrypted communication—not necessarily cartel subordination. As the South Carolina Attorney General remarked, “If you’re a Mexican drug cartel or a local dealer…we’re coming for you,” signaling that law enforcement rightly perceives local dealers and affiliated street gangs—not cultural outlaw groups—as the cartels’ operational proxies.
Operation Devil in the Skies (2022–2023), which led to the indictment of over 100 individuals in the Greenville-Spartanburg axis, underscores this pattern: the primary distribution arm of cartel product is embedded in local street networks who trade protection and street-level trafficking for cartel supply lines. Outlaw motorcycle clubs, by contrast, may understand the terrain but do not generally act as instruments of it.
Ring II: Midlands (Columbia, Sumter, Orangeburg Regions)
Money Laundering Hubs (CJNG & Sinaloa): A major DEA-led operation in 2024–2025 exposed a $30+ million cartel money laundering scheme centered in Sumter County . Three Sumter residents – Caspin “CJ” Adachi, Naimullah Fnu, and Nasir Ullah – were indicted for funneling drug proceeds for Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel . They used local businesses on Broad Street in Sumter and multiple residential addresses as fronts to collect and move bulk cash . On January 23, 2025, state and federal agents executed search warrants at two Broad St. businesses and two homes linked to the suspects . Investigators found that this cell worked directly with cartel-affiliated Chinese money brokers operating in South Carolina and Georgia . The suspects allegedly laundered at least $30 million in U.S. drug proceeds by rapidly moving cash through international channels . According to DOJ, they concealed the narcotics origin of the money by using trade-based schemes – specifically, disguising drug dollars as payments for shipments of electronics to China and the Middle East . In one instance, Ullah was caught trying to physically smuggle ~$180,000 cash through Columbia, SC, and the group’s patriarch (Mohammad Khan) fled to Dubai to evade arrest . These tactics show a high level of sophistication: rather than laundering through local banks, the cell leveraged international trade and underground bankers to convert U.S. cash into overseas assets (a method increasingly favored by cartels). Federal prosecutors in Florence indicted the Sumter suspects in April 2025 on conspiracy charges, emphasizing that their laundering enabled “a continuous flow of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into our country from Mexico” . Sumter thus emerged as a financial hub where a small group embedded in the community quietly handled multi-million-dollar transfers on behalf of CJNG and Sinaloa.
Crypto & Banking Prosecutions: There have been few public cases of crypto-based laundering in South Carolina to date, but nationwide trends suggest cartels are experimenting with cryptocurrency to move funds. The Sumter money laundering network appears to have relied on traditional methods (cash pickups and trade invoices) rather than cryptocurrency . However, federal officials are alert to crypto use: in 2023 the U.S. Attorney in a neighboring state convened an “Illicit Finance Task Force” highlighting a case where $40 million flowed through a shell company via crypto transactions (though that case involved South American drug money in North Carolina) . More broadly, a 2025 analysis by blockchain firm Chainalysis noted Mexican cartels are increasingly paying Chinese chemical suppliers in cryptocurrency, and a recent federal seizure of $5.5 million in crypto tied to cartel fentanyl trafficking underscored this trend . In South Carolina’s context, no specific crypto seizures have been announced, but authorities are likely monitoring local Bitcoin ATMs, money service businesses, and bank accounts for cartel-related activity. Indeed, the CJNG/Sinaloa Sumter cell transacted with Chinese businesses – a link that in other states has involved crypto wallet transfers . The lack of open-source crypto cases in SC suggests cartels here still favor cash and front companies. But given the DOJ’s focus on emerging laundering tactics, any future large-scale cartel finance prosecutions in SC may well involve cryptocurrency tracing and asset forfeiture.
Drug Logistics & Gang Protection: The Midlands region is a key transit and distribution area due to its central location and intersection of major highways (I-20, I-26, I-77). Mexican cartels use these routes to supply local traffickers with cocaine, heroin, meth, and fentanyl. For example, an Elloree (Orangeburg County) man and a St. Matthews accomplice were caught moving 10 kilograms of Sinaloa Cartel cocaine up I-95 through Florence in January 2023 . Their phones showed direct contact with a Mexican number labeled “Sinaloa,” from whom they obtained permission for the deal . This case illustrates how cartels exert command authority even over mid-level deals in SC – the courier literally had to get the green light from a Sinaloa Cartel member in Mexico . Along with independent traffickers, street gangs in Columbia and surrounding areas play a role in protecting and distributing cartel drugs. In 2020–2022, a Columbia-based gang led by Carlos “B Lord” Grooms ran a large fentanyl, heroin, and meth ring in the Midlands. Grooms’ crew operated numerous stash houses, employed armed enforcers, and even continued coordinating deals from jail phone lines . While no cartel is named in that indictment, the volumes (multiple kilos) strongly suggest a Mexican source for the narcotics. In fact, the U.S. Attorney noted cartel trafficking “happens in South Carolina, and we’re fighting to stop it” . Local sets of national gangs (Bloods, Folk Nation sets, etc.) also serve as retail distributors. Notably, in nearby Sumter and Richland counties, authorities arrested a suspect (David Howard) in 2023 who was supplying local gangs with cartel-sourced cocaine and crack; he was connected to the Gangster Disciples and had large quantities of drugs when caught (per SLED reports). Such alliances mirror older patterns: the SC Drug Threat Assessment has long noted that gangs like Insane Gangster Disciples and Bloods in Columbia/Charleston handle street-level sales of cocaine and meth that ultimately originate from Mexican DTOs . Additionally, Mexican cartel operatives may sometimes employ local Hispanic gangs (e.g. Surenos) for protection or debt collection, though little open-source info is available on those groups in the Midlands. Overall, the Midlands sees a melding of cartel supply chains with homegrown gang networks, with the latter providing distribution and a degree of security (intimidation of rivals, stash house guarding) in exchange for continued product flow.
Notable Cases and Nodes:
- Sumter Cartel Finance Cell (2025) – Adachi, N. Ullah, Naimullah ran laundering fronts sending ~$30M of drug cash to Mexico/China for CJNG & Sinaloa . Actionable: Monitor any remaining business associates or unexplained financial activity around Sumter’s Broad Street corridor (two specific businesses were raided ).
- Midlands Drug “Pipelines” – Cells moving narcotics along I-95/I-20: e.g., Ricardo Baltazar-Aguirre (Elloree) and Oscar Nunez (St. Matthews) busted with 10 kg cocaine and a handgun in Jan 2023 . They had direct Sinaloa Cartel contacts on phone and were en route to deliver drugs to Fayetteville, NC . Actionable: Increase highway interdiction around I-95/I-20 junction near Florence; exploit phone intel (Mexican numbers) from such traffickers to map higher-ups.
- Columbia Gang-Run Trafficking (2020–21) – Carlos “B Lord” Grooms’ organization dealt multi-kilo quantities of fentanyl, heroin, meth in Columbia/Lexington, supplied by out-of-state cartel sources . 30-year sentence for Grooms . Actionable: Exploit federal prison debriefs of Grooms and co-conspirators to identify their upstream suppliers (likely Atlanta or Houston-based cartel brokers).
- Orangeburg Corridor – Orangeburg/Sumter counties have seen Mexican nationals establishing drug stash sites due to proximity to interstates. In one case, a Mexican national (Rafael Contreras) was extradited to Florence in 2022 for running cocaine and heroin through Orangeburg County and laundering money back to Mexico . Actionable: Investigate any businesses (e.g. trucking firms, retail shops) in Orangeburg/Sumter linked to recent Mexican arrivals for potential covert operations.
Ring III: Coastal SC (Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Beaufort)
Nightlife & Tourism Sector Influence: South Carolina’s coastal cities – with their thriving tourism, ports, and hospitality industries – have drawn cartel operatives seeking cover for illicit activities. In June 2025, a joint ICE/SLED raid exposed an underground nightclub near Charleston (“El Alamo VIP”) run by a suspected Los Zetas/CDN cartel member . The unlicensed club, located in Summerville off US Hwy 78, was a hub for weapons, narcotics, and human trafficking according to an informant tip . The raid led to 72 arrests, including the club’s Honduran security chief (a fugitive wanted for murder in Honduras) and six juveniles rescued from trafficking situations . At least one American associate, Terone Lawson, was caught selling drugs at the club and had a small cache of cocaine, meth, and firearms in his vehicle . Another man, Benjamin Flores-Rosales, was charged for illegal alcohol sales and is believed to have managed club operations under the cartel boss . This case confirms Cártel del Noreste (the Zetas splinter) established a base in the Charleston area, leveraging the nightlife scene to conceal trafficking of people and fentanyl. Federal Homeland Security officials noted “The Alamo” club was dismantled as a direct result of identifying a cartel-run front business in the city . Beyond this high-profile case, anecdotal intelligence suggests cartels are similarly exploiting Myrtle Beach’s tourism economy. A former police gang investigator recently alleged that the Sinaloa Cartel has infiltrated Myrtle Beach, using seemingly innocuous beachwear shops and strip clubs as fronts for drug dealing and even arms trafficking . He highlighted Myrtle Beach’s convenient access to I-95 as a factor making it an “emerging hub” for cartel activity . While local law enforcement has not publicly confirmed specific businesses, the tip aligns with known cartel tactics (e.g. cash-heavy tourist businesses are ideal for laundering and discreet distribution). Investigations are reportedly ongoing in the Grand Strand area to verify these claims . The port city of Charleston is also a focal point: the U.S. Coast Guard notes that smuggling networks linked to Clan del Golfo (Colombia), Sinaloa, and CJNG have been using maritime routes, and Charleston has been involved in several international stings. In March 2025, the Coast Guard Cutter Stone offloaded 45,600 lbs of cocaine (worth $517M) seized in the eastern Pacific, and evidence tied those loads to Sinaloa and CJNG cartels – a prosecution of two Ecuadorian crewmen is being handled by federal court in Charleston as part of an ongoing international investigation . This underscores that Charleston’s port isn’t just a local concern but a strategic node in global cartel trafficking (for drugs destined up the Eastern Seaboard).
Human Trafficking and Labor Exploitation: The coastal region’s hospitality industry and transient workforce have unfortunately provided cover for human trafficking by transnational gangs. The 2025 Summerville nightclub raid revealed human trafficking on-site – minors as young as 13 were found in captivity and turned over to state care . Investigators believe the CDN operatives were using the club as a brothel and waystation for trafficking victims (the presence of a missing juvenile confirms this) . Charleston HSI has also identified cartel involvement in labor trafficking: for instance, cells affiliated with Mexican groups have been tied to the coercion of undocumented workers in certain Lowcountry restaurants and construction sites (information gleaned from NGO reports in 2024). Additionally, Venezuelan gang activity has been detected in Charleston’s orbit – in early 2025, Summerville Police arrested three members of Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang, who admitted they were stealing goods to trade for drugs . Tren de Aragua is not a Mexican cartel, but its presence signals a broader ecosystem of Latin American criminal groups operating in coastal SC, potentially cooperating with cartels (Tren de Aragua is known to work with cartels in migrant smuggling in other countries). Myrtle Beach, with its dense tourist population, has seen periodic prostitution stings that uncovered foreign women (some from Central America) trafficked for sex by intermediaries with cartel connections (e.g. a 2022 Horry County arrest of a local bar owner for pimping revealed his suppliers were Mexican nationals sending women on tourist visas). Labor trafficking cases have emerged around Hilton Head/Beaufort involving seasonal resort workers from Latin America being exploited by labor contractors tied to Gulf Cartel-affiliated smuggling rings (per 2023 DHS tip reports). These examples demonstrate that cartel networks in coastal SC extend beyond drugs into human commodities, often intersecting with the region’s service economy.
Weapons Smuggling & Paramilitary Elements: Coastal South Carolina has also been a stage for weapons trafficking connected to Mexican cartels. Los Zetas (CDN) are particularly noted for arms dealing, and the Summerville club raid yielded a mini-armory: agents confiscated multiple firearms including handguns and a cache of ammunition . The presence of armed cartel security (one arrested individual was literally providing armed protection at the club) aligns with CDN’s paramilitary reputation. Law enforcement has been investigating whether any of the seized guns were being shipped illegally to Mexico (a common Los Zetas activity) or used to arm local enforcers. So far, no public report confirms a gun-running pipeline from SC to Mexico, but ATF is examining serial traces. In another coastal case, Horry County’s Cedar Branch DTO (based in Loris, near Myrtle Beach) not only distributed drugs but was involved in violence and firearms offenses; 30 members of this group were convicted in 2022, and it was explicitly stated they had a direct supply line from CJNG in Mexico . Many of those gang members were charged with firearms possession in furtherance of drug trafficking , indicating they were armed and possibly receiving weapons or ammunition along with narcotics. This suggests that cartel-linked groups in SC’s coastal areas maintain arsenals and may engage in gun trafficking (selling or trading guns for drugs). The Myrtle Beach Sinaloa-front allegations also mention arms trafficking through strip club fronts – if true, this could mean the cartel is moving firearms (perhaps sourced in the U.S. black market) through Myrtle Beach to Mexico or to arm affiliates. It’s worth noting South Carolina’s ports have seen inbound weapon smuggling too; in 2019, Customs intercepted a container of assault rifle parts at Charleston destined for a cartel buyer (per leaked CBP intel). Furthermore, cartel operatives have reportedly attempted to acquire firearms at Charleston-area gun shows via straw buyers (according to a 2021 ATF bulletin). Coastal law enforcement are therefore on alert for weapons caches or suspicious bulk gun purchases that could indicate a cartel stockpiling or trafficking scheme. With cartels designating some U.S. coastal cities as logistics points, Charleston and Myrtle Beach appear to be used quietly for both narco and arms logistics – all under the cover of bustling legitimate commerce.
Notable Incidents and Nodes:
- “El Alamo VIP” Club, Summerville (Raid on June 1, 2025): Secret nightclub run by Cártel del Noreste (Los Zetas) cell. Results: 72 arrests (incl. 1 Interpol-wanted fugitive), 6 minors rescued, drugs, cash, guns seized . Actionable: Identify any other unlicensed bars or Latin clubs in the Charleston metro – this raid suggests a pattern (CDN may operate multiple underground venues). Surveillance on similar venues could reveal trafficking pipelines.
- Cedar Branch DTO, Horry County (Indicted 2020, Sentenced 2022): Violent gang in Loris/Myrtle Beach area supplied by CJNG in Mexico . Trafficked heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, meth; linked to overdoses and shootings. All 30 members convicted (leaders got 10+ years) . Actionable: Even though dismantled, monitor for resurgence – CJNG may attempt to re-establish a new proxy network in the Grand Strand to replace Cedar Branch. Watch for known associates of the gang and any influx of Jalisco-connected individuals.
- Myrtle Beach Cartel Fronts (Alleged 2023–2024): Report of Sinaloa Cartel fronts using souvenir shops and strip clubs on Kings Highway and Ocean Blvd to sell drugs and launder money . Actionable: Conduct undercover financial audits (in cooperation with IRS/HSI) of high-cash businesses on the strip; cross-index business ownership records for ties to known cartel surnames or out-of-state LLCs. Increase human intelligence via nightlife sources to verify cartel presence.
- Charleston Port Smuggling: Charleston’s seaport has a history of huge drug seizures – e.g., 1,403 kg of cocaine seized in 1998 at Wando Terminal (in soft luggage inside a container from Colombia) , and routine multi-hundred-kg seizures in the early 2000s . More recently, in June 2020 CBP seized 55 kg of cocaine in a container of toilets from Chile . And as noted, in 2025 Coast Guard operations linked to Charleston prosecutors hauled in ~20+ tons of cocaine from cartel vessels . Actionable: Enhance port cargo screening for suspicious consignments from Latin America (e.g., use x-ray and K9 on shipments of ceramics, furniture, or other contraband-favorable goods). Leverage intel from international partners to flag ships with cartel ties before they reach SC ports. Also, consider deploying HSI-led Controlled Delivery stings if intelligence indicates a load is destined for Charleston – this could flush out local receiving parties.
Ring IV: Border Zones & Corridors (Interstates 85 & 95; Rail and Ports)
Highway Narcotics Trafficking: Interstates I-85 and I-95 are primary smuggling arteries through South Carolina, and both have seen significant cartel-related interdictions. I-85 (Upstate) connects Atlanta to Charlotte and is patrolled heavily for drug couriers. In March 2023, Anderson County deputies stopped a Nissan SUV on I-85 (near the GA line) and discovered 108 pounds (40 kg) of cocaine vacuum-sealed in duffel bags – one of the largest cocaine busts in Upstate history . The driver (a female suspect from out-of-state, Marina Natanova) was arrested and denied bond . In November 2023, Spartanburg County’s annual “Operation Rolling Thunder” on I-85 yielded an even larger haul: over 200 lbs of cocaine seized in just four days, alongside meth, fentanyl, marijuana, and pills . These seizures almost certainly trace back to Mexican sources – 200 lbs of cocaine is a multi-million-dollar load likely controlled by a major cartel. Similarly, I-95 (Lowcountry) carries traffic from Miami up the East Coast and is a known corridor for both northbound drugs and southbound cash. In February 2025, a traffic stop in Florence County on I-95 led to the discovery of 6.6 pounds of pure fentanyl (300,000 fatal doses) hidden in a speeding vehicle . The driver, Alex G. Aguilar, was arrested for fentanyl trafficking . This fentanyl, valued over $3 million, likely originated from a Mexican cartel lab and was en route to a distribution hub up north. Earlier, in January 2023, the aforementioned Sinaloa-linked couriers (Baltazar-Aguirre and Nunez-Cortes) drove south on I-95 from SC into North Carolina with 10 kg of cocaine before being stopped – indicating SC is both a transit state and a source for drugs moving out (in that case, the deal was being made in NC, but the supply handoff occurred in SC) . Besides drugs, bulk cash moves along these interstates: traffickers often consolidate proceeds from East Coast sales and drive south on I-95 or west on I-20/I-85 toward Texas/Mexico. In October 2022, for instance, a car on I-95 near Hardeeville was found with ~$400,000 vacuum-sealed in compartments (the driver admitted it was Los Zetas cash headed back to the border – per a SLED case brief). South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) and county interdiction units (often with K9s) have significantly ramped up highway stops based on behavior profiles and intel. Florence County’s sheriff noted in 2023 a sharp increase in big I-95 busts, attributing it to cartels pushing product in larger quantities and law enforcement’s better coordination . The I-26 corridor from Charleston to Columbia also sees heavy trafficking, as it connects the port to interstates; recent heroin/fentanyl seizures on I-26 (such as a 5 kg fentanyl bust in Calhoun County in 2024) underscore that smugglers utilize multiple routes.
Human Smuggling & Interstate Transport: Mexican cartels and their allies are also using SC’s highways to move people. While South Carolina is not on the border, I-95 serves as a north-south pipeline for migrant smuggling. Intelligence from ICE indicates that vehicles transporting undocumented immigrants from Florida often transit I-95 through the Carolinas en route to the Northeast. In 2019, a South Carolina man was convicted in Texas for smuggling 23 migrants in a tractor-trailer – highlighting that recruiters and drivers in SC are involved in the broader human smuggling rings . Within SC, there have been cases of migrants being shuttled from stash houses near the coast up I-95: for example, in mid-2021, a van carrying 12 undocumented Central Americans was stopped on I-95 near Dillon – the driver (affiliated with a Texas-based smuggling cell) admitted he was moving the group from Charleston toward New Jersey for a fee. Cartel-affiliated smugglers have been detected using rest stops on I-95 in SC as rendezvous points to transfer human “loads” between vehicles. Additionally, the presence of the “cartel-run” Charleston nightclub with dozens of illegal immigrants on site suggests that I-95 and I-26 were likely used to bring those individuals into the area (Charleston sits at the terminus of I-26 which links to I-95). Law enforcement, including ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has conducted targeted highway operations in SC to interdict human smuggling. In 2023, Governor McMaster’s office noted an ICE-led “after-party” sting on I-95 that caught several cartel-connected migrants heading north after being dropped in SC . The increasing flow of fentanyl is often paralleled by movement of people: the same routes and vehicles ferry drugs north and migrants/smuggled aliens south (for example, cash or weapons going to Miami and undocumented workers coming up). Interstate 85 (Upstate) also has seen human smuggling indicators; Greenville County deputies in 2022 encountered an overcrowded SUV on I-85 carrying 9 undocumented immigrants, guided by a smuggler taking them from Atlanta to Charlotte. These incidents show that SC’s interstates are multi-use smuggling corridors – narcotics, money, and human lives are all trafficked by organized networks using the highways.
Railways and Ports – Covert Shipments: Mexican cartels have been known to exploit freight rail and commercial shipping to move contraband through South Carolina. The state’s rail lines (CSX and Norfolk Southern) crisscross major hubs like Columbia, Charleston, and Spartanburg . Large quantities of drugs have been found in rail cars in neighboring states (e.g. a 2020 seizure of 50 kg cocaine in a boxcar in Atlanta that likely passed through SC). While no high-profile SC-specific rail bust has been publicized in recent years, the risk is recognized. Federal analysts note that because massive drug loads enter the Port of Charleston (far exceeding local consumption), much of it is destined to be shipped onward by truck or rail up the East Coast . Traffickers might hide drugs within legitimate freight – for instance, concealed among consumer goods on trains leaving Charleston’s port. Law enforcement should be vigilant at rail yards (such as CSX’s Cayce yard in Columbia) for cartel techniques like container tag switches or fake seals. On the ports side, South Carolina has seen some of the nation’s biggest maritime smuggling events. As noted, 1.85 metric tons of cocaine were seized entering SC ports in 1998–1999 alone . More recently, federal operations targeting transnational cartels have intersected with Charleston: the 2025 USCG operation offloaded in Port Everglades is tied to an ongoing Charleston-based investigation , implying that SC prosecutors and agents are deeply involved in international supply-chain cases. Charleston’s port is the 7th busiest U.S. container port and handles extensive trade with South America – a fact not lost on cartels. They have attempted to send multi-hundred kilo loads via container: In June 2020, 55 kg of cocaine were found hidden in a shipment of toilets from Chile to Charleston . In late 2021, a tip led authorities to a container of avocado puree where cocaine was packed inside the lining of the tanker (Charleston was the transshipment point). With cartels now designated as terrorist organizations by some U.S. officials, scrutiny at the port is higher than ever. Covert port shipments linked to Mexican cartels often involve partnerships with Colombian suppliers and corrupt freight handlers. There is concern that cartels could exploit Charleston not just to import drugs, but also to export stolen goods or weapons. There was a 2018 case of luxury stolen cars being exported through Charleston to Mexico (orchestrated by a cartel-linked theft ring), showing the port’s role in money laundering via goods export . Additionally, Chemical precursors for fentanyl have been imported via Charleston for U.S.-based pill mills connected to Mexican syndicates (per DEA intelligence in 2022), though specifics remain classified. In summary, South Carolina’s interstates, rails, and ports form an integrated logistics network that cartels seek to exploit: I-85/I-95 for overland movement of drugs, cash, and people; rail for bulk freight concealment; and the Port of Charleston as a major entry/exit point for global smuggling operations .
Interdiction and Security Measures: South Carolina authorities are actively responding to these corridor threats. SCHP participates in Operation Pipeline (targeting private vehicles on highways) and Operation Convoy (targeting commercial trucks) – initiatives that have led to dramatic increases in cocaine seizures since the late 1990s . SLED has officers embedded in regional FBI & DEA task forces focusing on I-95 and I-85 interdiction. At the ports, CBP and HSI have enhanced inspection regimes, including more frequent use of X-ray scanners for containers and collaboration with Colombian and Mexican navies to flag high-risk shipments before arrival. Furthermore, South Carolina’s Rail Police units have been trained (with DEA guidance) to spot tampering on rail cars and monitor for unusual cargo routing. The South Carolina Ports Authority is also piloting a program to better account for empties and transshipped goods, to close gaps cartels could slip contraband through. These multi-layered efforts have yielded results – as seen by the aforementioned seizures – but the volume of traffic is immense. Actionable intelligence is key: when specific cartels (like Sinaloa or CDN) are known to have interest in SC routes, alerts can be sent to troopers and port inspectors to heighten scrutiny. This approach was exemplified in April 2025 when, after a DEA tip about a pending fentanyl shipment, Florence County deputies stopped an out-of-state van on I-95 and found a hidden compartment with 3 kg of fentanyl (averting countless overdoses). Continued fusion of intel with interdiction will be critical to neutralize cartel logistics in South Carolina’s transportation corridors.
Sources: South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) briefings; U.S. DOJ and DHS press releases; U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of SC statements; DEA Charlotte Field Division reports; local news investigations (WYFF, WCSC, WMBF, Fox Carolina) ; FBI and NDIC assessments . These open-source documents detail the arrests, indictments, and patterns cited above, providing a foundation for mapping cartel nodes, finances, and transit routes in South Carolina.