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Drug Situation: South Carolina, once considered a “consumer state” has transcended to being a “source state” for illegal drugs. South Carolina is increasingly documented as a transshipment corridor for all manners of illicit drugs and drug proceeds. There is increasing evidence of organizational activity extending to major distribution hubs, such as New York City, Southern Florida, Southern Texas/Mexico and Southern California. 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 contraband throughout the Eastern Seaboard. From Mexico and the southwest border states, traffickers travel 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. 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 a slow but steadily increasing threat in the northern regions of the state (Greenville and Florence). Methamphetamine seizures in the last year have seen an increase. Over the last year, 100 clandestine meth labs were seized in the state; reflecting a 6 percent increase over the previous year. Most illicit drugs are transited to and through the state in small and mid size passenger vehicles.

Poly-Drug: Mexican traffickers and Mexican DTOs continue to play an increasingly dominant role in the importation and distribution of illegal drugs within South Carolina. Mexican poly-drug organizations are the largest foreign threat in the state, predominantly trafficking in cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin.

Marijuana: Marijuana, the most prevalent illegal drug of abuse in South Carolina, primarily comes from Mexico by way of I-20. Interstate 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 (British Columbian, hydroponically grown marijuana with high THC content) 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. Federal, state and local statistics indicate a substantial decrease in marijuana seizures in the state over the last year.

Cocaine: Cocaine and crack cocaine continue to be among the most widely abused drugs throughout the state. Though cocaine was the most seized illicit drug in the state in the last year, it was also the only illicit drug showing a decline in seizures compared to the previous year. This phenomenon is due to the combined efforts of domestic and international law enforcement entities impeding the movement of cocaine through Mexico into the U.S. Because it has become increasingly difficult to transport cocaine into the U.S., some traffickers are supplementing their income by selling other drugs such as marijuana, MDMA and prescription drugs. Cocaine HCl is often converted into crack after arriving in the state. Mexican DTOs dominate trafficking in South Carolina using a variety of smuggling methods to include private vehicles, commercial tractor-trailers using I-85, I-26, I-95 and I-20. Interstate 85 reflected 50 percent of all highway drug interdictions followed by 20 percent each for I-20 and I-95. Ten percent of all reported seizures occurred on State Route 151. Containerized cargo thru the Port of Charleston is also a popular transshipment method.

Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is a constant threat in the state of South Carolina. In the last year there as been a slight increase in methamphetamine seizures pivotal to the steady decrease documented between 2005 and 2007. This spurt, in spite of recently passed state and federal laws prohibiting the sale of methamphetamine HCl precursors, may be attributed to traffickers using alternative methods for processing methamphetamine or Ice. 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.

Heroin: Heroin is readily available in multi-gram quantities throughout South Carolina and is routinely packaged in "bindles" for distribution. Seizure statistics show a substantial increase in comparison to last year. Intelligence reveals that South American, Southeast Asian, and Mexican heroin is found in the state; however, there is no information that reveals which heroin type is most preferred by users. Mexican DTOs dominate heroin trafficking in South Carolina and are the primary sources of supply in the Columbia area. African-American DTOs with sources in New York and Baltimore control heroin trafficking in the Charleston metropolitan area. Traffickers most commonly use land conveyances such as passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers to bring heroin into South Carolina. Heroin shipments are brought into South Carolina usually via I-20 and through the city of Atlanta. The Mexican DTOs use I-20 to transport heroin to the Columbia area, while the African American DTOs use I-95 and I-85 to transport heroin to the Charleston area.

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. Recent data indicates that Atlanta, Georgia, has become a significant hub for MDMA distribution to 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. 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 intelligence indicates 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. Schedule II drugs are reportedly taken in combination with Schedule III or IV drugs or the non-controlled Soma ®.

Money Laundering: 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 detail shops are all part of the process of laundering money throughout the state.

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: 02/2009

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