Thirty-six people have been indicted in connection with an alleged Mexico-based drug-trafficking and money-laundering organization that authorities say has operated in South Carolina since 2011. Federal agents seized hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, along with a fleet of luxury vehicles that included two Rolls-Royces, a Lamborghini, and an Aston Martin.
The investigation found active members of the organization spread across South Carolina, Mexico, and even inside the South Carolina Department of Corrections, according to wpde.com. The DEA reported seizing 346 kilograms of fentanyl, 23 kilograms of methamphetamine, 70 kilograms of cocaine, 34 pounds of marijuana, 43 firearms, and more than $2.8 million as part of the operation, per the same outlet's report.
Beyond the drugs and weapons, agents also recovered jewelry and personal items authorities say were purchased with drug-trafficking proceeds. Investigators secured notices of lawsuits involving 17 properties across South Carolina and Georgia, with an estimated aggregate value of nearly $4 million, the report states.
Charges Stacked Up Over Three Separate Rounds
The case against the 36 defendants didn't come together all at once. Eighteen members of the alleged drug-trafficking and money-laundering operation were charged in April, according to WIS News 10, with 16 more suspects added after a 42-count indictment was unsealed this month. Two additional people were charged in a separate indictment in July 2025, the station reported, and six defendants have already pleaded guilty.
As first reported by ABC Columbia, the 36 people were charged as part of a multi-state Homeland Security task force investigation involving drug trafficking and international money laundering. Prosecutors say the organization supplied South Carolina with hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine dating back to at least 2021, according to ABC News 4, which reported the alleged distribution network reached the Lowcountry, Pee Dee, Grand Strand, and Midlands regions of the state.
Arrests Continue Statewide
Enforcement activity tied to the case has continued this week. Horry County deputies arrested Melissa Dantzler, Zaki Harris, Jimmy Davis Jr., and Tykeem Sumpter on Tuesday, according to WMBF News, as part of the broader roundup of the 36 indicted defendants.
Court filings referenced in a U.S. Department of Justice release describe at least one guilty plea in the case: Rafael Contreras Ramos, identified as a leader of the organization, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances in South Carolina, according to the justice.gov announcement.
The scale of the seizures underscores how deeply the alleged network had operated in South Carolina since 2011, with active members even inside the South Carolina Department of Corrections. The case has included six guilty pleas and a 42-count indictment.
