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Drug Situation: South Carolina was once considered a “consumer state” rather than a “source state” for illegal drugs. South Carolina was increasingly documented as a transshipment corridor for all manner of illicit drugs and drug currency . However, intelligence information reveals that the state is becoming a distribution point for drugs smuggled from the California, Florida, Georgia, New York, Texas, and Mexico. It is strategically located midway between Miami and New York City, where I-20, I-26, and I-77 intersect with I-95 and I-85. South Carolina’s location is ideal for transshipping illegal drugs throughout the Eastern seaboard. From Mexico and the Southwest Border States, traffickers travel daily on I-20 and I-85 to supply northeastern states with cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and heroin. Cocaine hydrochloride (HCI), crack cocaine, and methamphetamine are the major illegal drug threats in South Carolina. There has been increasing evidence of organizational activity extending to major distribution hubs, such as New York City (cocaine and heroin), southern Florida (cocaine and Ecstasy), southern Texas/Mexico (cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine), and southern California (methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine). Investigations are becoming more complex and cross numerous statewide and nationwide jurisdictions. Cocaine HCl and crack cocaine abuse have long endured as South Carolina’s major drug threat; however, methamphetamine poses an increasing threat. Methamphetamine manufacturing and trafficking has shown a steady decrease over the past two year throughout South Carolina from 2005 to 2007.

Currently, Mexican Drug-Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) are the most common wholesale suppliers of marijuana, cocaine and, to a lesser extent, methamphetamine throughout the state of South Carolina. South Carolina has experienced a significant increase in drug-trafficking activity, possibly due to the influx of Mexican immigrants. Though most immigrants are not involved in drug trafficking, their presence allows traffickers from Mexico—as well as other Latin American countries—to hide within ethnic Hispanic communities.

Cocaine: Cocaine and crack cocaine continue to be among the most widely abused drugs throughout the state of South Carolina. Mexican DTOs dominate trafficking in South Carolina. Traffickers use an array of smuggling methods to include private vehicles, commercial tractor-trailers using I-85, I-26, I-95 and I-20. Traffickers also have been known to utilize containerized cargo at the Port of Charleston.

Heroin: Heroin is readily available in multi-gram quantities throughout South Carolina and is routinely packaged in "bindles" for distribution. Intelligence reveals that South American, Southeast Asian, and Mexican heroin is found in the state. Smugglers use a variety of concealment methods including express mail and land transportation to bring heroin into the state. New York, New Jersey, and Mexico are the most common sources for heroin distribution in South Carolina. Mexican DTOs are the most common sources for heroin in the Columbia. Interstate 20 is the most frequently used route for heroin into this area. African-American DTOs with sources in New York and Baltimore control heroin trafficking in the Charleston metropolitan area. Heroin is transported to the Charleston area primarily by privately owned vehicles using I-95 and I-85. Although the heroin user population has historically been a limited and stable group generally located in the inner cities, recent information indicates an increasing pattern of heroin use by a younger population in "experimental" or "party" situations.

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is a constant threat in the state of South Carolina; however, methamphetamine manufacture and abuse has shown a steady decrease over the past two years throughout South Carolina from 2005 to 2007. Mexico and local suppliers are the primary sources for methamphetamine in the state with Atlanta reported as a source city. Typically, the drug is transported from Mexico, California, and Atlanta by private vehicle using I-20 and I-95. During 2006, South Carolina passed legislation to curb indiscriminate access to over-the-counter cold and allergy medications containing pseudo ephedrine to clandestine laboratory operators and their associates, as a means to halt manufacture in their respective states.

Club Drugs: Ecstasy (MDMA) is readily available in several cities in South Carolina, predominantly in the areas of Greenville and Columbia, and those cities along the Atlantic coast. During the past year, there has been a significant increase in Ecstasy distribution throughout the state with traffickers based out of Columbia distributing a significant portion of the Ecstasy sold. Recent data indicates that Atlanta, Georgia, has become a significant hub for MDMA distribution in South Carolina. Typically, users are between the ages of 16 and 25 in the middle-to-upper-middle-class economic bracket, and may be college students or young professionals. MDMA is found primarily at private parties, fitness facilities, clubs, school/college campuses, and associated “hang-outs.” For several years, methamphetamine adulteration of MDMA has been observed. This adulterated MDMA, recently coined in the media as Meth X or Extreme Ecstasy, has been determined to be an exploitative, new market endeavor by Canadian Asian organized crime groups, not the result of imprecise production.

Marijuana: Marijuana, the most prevalent illegal drug of abuse in South Carolina, primarily comes from Mexico by way of I-20. I-26 and I-95 are popular routes for traffickers targeting Charleston, Florence and Myrtle Beach areas. African-American DTOs with sources in Atlanta and Miami are also suppliers of marijuana in the Charleston metropolitan area. Both Mexican and domestic varieties are readily available; BC Bud marijuana is also available but to a lesser extent. Use and abuse continues to be extensive, in part, because of the large number of college students throughout the state. Traffickers use vehicles, tractor-trailers, commercial air, buses, trains, and commercial express parcel services to import marijuana from Mexico through California. A smaller percentage of marijuana is locally grown. Members of the South Carolina National Guard and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) routinely eradicate small patches of outdoor marijuana. The Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program (DCE/SP) reports seizures and arrest statistics.

Other Drugs: There have been increasing incidents of LSD distribution and abuse, as well as incidents of Rohypnol and Ketamine appearing in nightclubs in those communities along the Atlantic coast and upstate.

Pharmaceutical Diversion: Current investigations indicate that diversion of OxyContin®, hydrocodone products (such as Vicodin®), and pseudoephedrine continues to be a problem in South Carolina. Primary methods of diversion being reported are illegal sale and distribution by health care professionals and workers, and “doctor shopping” (going to a number of doctors to obtain prescriptions for a controlled pharmaceutical). Methadone, benzodiazepines, MS Contin®, and fentanyl were also identified as being among the most commonly abused and diverted pharmaceuticals in South Carolina. According to investigations by the Columbia DO Diversion Group, OxyContin, Methadone, Fentanyl and Hydrocodone pose the greatest concerns. These Schedule II and III drugs are usually taken in combination with benzodiazepines and Soma, a non-controlled drug that is highly abused.

Money Laundering: Drug proceeds are usually moved by commercial tractor-trailers and privately owned vehicles. These vehicles are frequently equipped with special electronically controlled compartments. Money transfers, vehicle and real estate purchases, clothing stores, and details shops are all part of the process of laundering money throughout the state.

DEA Mobile Enforcement Teams: This cooperative program with state and local law enforcement counterparts was conceived in 1995 in response to the overwhelming problem of drug-related violent crime in towns and cities across the nation. Since the inception of the MET Program, 473 deployments have been completed nationwide, resulting in 19,643 arrests. There have been six MET deployments in the State of South Carolina since the inception of the program: Greenville, Dillon, North Charleston, Orangeburg, and Spartanburg (2).

DEA Regional Enforcement Teams: This program was designed to augment existing DEA division resources by targeting drug organizations operating in the United States where there is a lack of sufficient local drug law enforcement. This program was conceived in 1999 in response to the threat posed by drug trafficking organizations that have established networks of cells to conduct drug trafficking operations in smaller, non-traditional trafficking locations in the United States. As of January 31, 2005, there have been 27 deployments nationwide and 1 deployment in the U.S. Virgin Islands, resulting in 671 arrests. There have been no RET deployments in South Carolina.

DEA State and Local Assistance: The DEA continues to support South Carolina state and local efforts with specialized programs aimed at the availability of drugs.

More information about the Atlanta Division Office.

Sources

Factsheet last updated: 3/2008

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