State unveils new indictments in years-long drug trafficking investigation in Upstate
(WSPA) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced on Monday a new round of indictments connected to a multi-jurisdictional investigation into drug trafficking in Upstate counties.
On Monday, Wilson announced the state's 'Devil in Disguise' investigation, a multi-jurisdictional investigation into drug trafficking across the Upstate, had charges for more than 108 defendants spread across multiple Upstate Counties on more than 380 charges related to drug trafficking and similar crimes.
'These new State Grand Jury indictments are the result of the hard work of law enforcement, prosecutors, and staff from many jurisdictions,' Wilson said. 'We will continue to aggressively fight drug traffickers with every resource we have.'
According to the Greenville County Coroner's Office, Greenville County had 278 drug-related overdose deaths in 2022, most of which were related to fentanyl trafficking. In response to the growing number of overdose deaths, the Greenville County Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) began what eventually became the 'Devil in Disguise' investigation.
Previous story: 64 charged with fentanyl trafficking, related overdose deaths in the Upstate, AG says
The investigation involved cooperation with the Attorney General's State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins' Office, the United States Attorney's Office, the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, South Carolina National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, Greenville County Sheriff's Office, Pickens County Sheriff's Office, Anderson County Sheriff's Office, Greenville County Coroner's Office, Pickens County Coroner's Office, Easley Police Department, Pickens Police Department, Greenville Police Department, Travelers Rest Police Department, Greer Police Department, Mauldin Police Department, and the Fountain Inn Police Department.
The Attorney General's Office said the investigation has seized or recovered more than 97 pounds of cocaine, 8 pounds of fentanyl and 22 pounds of meth. Investigators have also seized more than $1 million in cash and multiple firearms.
Many of those drugs, Wilson's office claims, are tied to Mexican cartel organizations.
His office claimed cartels would have members of their organization already within the United States fly to different locations to distribute shipments of cocaine, ultimately resulting in hundreds of kilograms being trafficked into South Carolina. They also said Mexican cartels would coordinate with members of their organization who are in prison in the United States to have large loads of fentanyl smuggled into the country, then have other members of the organization transport the drugs to South Carolina.
Bond hearings for some of the newer defendants will occur on at the Richland County Courthouse.
We will update this story as new details become available.Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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