COLUMBIA, S.C.
— Two California brothers have been
federally indicted
following the largest
fentanyl seizure in South Carolina’s history
, according to an announcement from the
U.S. Department of Justice
and the
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
. The bust involved an astonishing
156 pounds of fentanyl
and
44 pounds of methamphetamine
, enough to potentially cause
over 36 million fatalities
.
Massive Drug Seizure in Central South Carolina
The indictment stems from
two traffic stops earlier this month
in
Lexington and Richland counties
, where officers pulled over a
tractor-trailer
transporting what initially appeared to be legitimate business cargo. Hidden inside were large quantities of narcotics concealed in packaging.
DEA officials revealed that the drugs were likely
smuggled into the U.S. from Mexico
and
trafficked across southern border routes
before arriving in South Carolina.
Suspects Indicted on Federal Drug Charges
The suspects, identified as:
-
Alberto Rios-Landeros
, 26 -
Chris Guadalupe Rios-Landeros
, 23
—both of
Delano, California
, were arrested at the scene and have since been
formally indicted
on charges of
conspiracy
and
possession with intent to distribute
fentanyl and methamphetamine.
If convicted, the brothers each face
a maximum sentence of life in prison
under federal sentencing guidelines.
More information is available from
WJCL’s report
.
Fentanyl’s Lethal Potential Highlighted
The DEA emphasized the extreme danger posed by fentanyl, noting that just
two milligrams can be fatal
. The 156 pounds seized in this case could have theoretically led to
36 million overdose deaths
— an amount staggering in both scale and public health impact.
The
retail street value
of the seized narcotics is estimated to exceed
$1.7 million
.
What do you think about this record-breaking drug bust? Share your thoughts or tips on local law enforcement challenges with the Saluda Standard-Sentinel.
