20-05-2025
Coroner: Over 700 deaths linked to fetnanyl in Greenville County
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — The Attorney General's Office says the Greenville County Sheriffs Office is working hard to fight fentanyl in the Upstate.
The Attorney Generals' Office said on Monday that through the 'Devil in Disguise' investigation more than seven and a half pounds of fentanyl has been seized in Greenville County, along with more than six pounds of cocaine and nearly 20 pounds of meth.
Last year federal, state, and local leaders stood in Greenville County and shared a message to those involved in fentanyl trafficking. At the time more than 60 individuals had been indicted. Since then authorities said that number has almost doubled.
In the last three years the Greenville County Coroners' Office said nearly 700 people died from a drug-related overdose. Many of those deaths, Chief Deputy Coroner Shelton England says, were related to fentanyl.
The Greenville County Coroners' Office said they have had 21 confirmed overdose deaths this year, 10 of those include fentanyl. Seventeen possible overdose cases are still pending.
'What happens is fluid in the lungs because what happens is the respiratory drive starts to decrease and essentially someone drowns from the inside out,' said England.
In Greenville County authorities are cracking down on those they believe are responsible for fentanyl trafficking. Sheriff Hobart Lewis issued a warning.
'If it is worth it to sling this poison out here on these streets just know we are watching you, we are going to charge you, we are going to put you in that building next door 'til it's busting at the seams,' Greenville County Sheriff, Hobart Lewis said.
The coroner's office said since operation 'Devil in Disguise' started, overdose deaths have decreased but that number last year still totaled 170 people who lost their lives.
England said the conversations his office has with loved ones are not easy.
'It's devastating,' Shelton said. 'First and foremost you are telling someone the worst news that they are ever going to get in their entire life and then you have to start asking these questions that are incriminating.'
Lewis said his department has a drug enforcement unit; that's a collaboration of all the counties municipalities.
He said so far 15 people in Greenville County have been charged with distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and two have been charged with homicide by overdose on a state grand jury level.
'Legislators I think are finally coming around to hold people accountable that are putting this poison on the street for our young people,' Lewis said. 'It is extremely dangerous for our community, and we are not going to stand for it.'
Lewis said operation 'Devil in Disguise' is not over in Greenville County. The investigation statewide will continue as they work to make South Carolina safer.
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