COLUMBIA, S.C. (WTVD) -- Two brothers were indicted in what is believed to be the biggest fentanyl bust in South Carolina history.
On July 1, Lexington County Sheriff's deputies and South Carolina State Transport Police officers did two coordinated traffic stop in Lexington and Richland counties. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of South Carolina, inside a tractor trailer that was transporting products with a legitimate business purpose, authorities also found large packages of illegal narcotics.
In total, 156 pounds (71 kilograms) of fentanyl and 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of methamphetamine were seized. Investigators said the drugs were sourced in Mexico and taken across the southern border.
The two men -- Alberto Rios-Landeros, 26, and Chris Guadalupe Rios-Landeros, 23, both of Delano, California -- operating the vehicle were arrested following the traffic stop and indicted on Tuesday, July 22. They were charged with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Both could face life in prison, authorities confirmed.
"This isn't just a drug bust; it's a life-saving intervention on an unprecedented scale for our state," said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. "Law enforcement has been working together at every level to keep South Carolina safe, and we're committed to dismantling the criminal networks that bring this poison into our communities."
A press release said the investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that aims to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent criminals.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, along with Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the State Transport Police, the Kershaw County Sheriff's Office and the Richland County Sheriff's Department.