The State newspaper reported today that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), working with federal and local authorities,  indicted 21 people involved in a heroin drug trafficking ring.

In a press release, SLED indicated that “Operation Black Poppy” resulted in the arrests of 18 people to date on charges which include: Trafficking Heroin (conspiracy) > 28 grams, Four Counts Trafficking Heroin >28 grams, Trafficking Heroin 14-28 grams and Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.

SLED believes that these arrests stem from a Mexican drug cartel operation intent on trafficking heroin into South Carolina. So far, the investigators have identified cells in Richland/Lexington counties, Horry/Georgetown counties and Charleston County. SLED indicates that this drug trafficking operation brought more than 30 kilograms or $5.5 million worth of heroin in South Carolina. 

To date, 18 people have been arrested including:

Francisco Guerrero-Flores, Juan Rodolpho Arroyo, Gadiel Garcia De Dios (aka Andres Sandavol), Manuel Hernandez Robles, Joshua Griffin, Bobby Burroughs, Kenneth Andrews, Brainen Borchers, Michael Rion Byrd, Edgar Allan Craig, Wendy Annette Craig, Ian Matthew Craven, Jeremy Lewis Gray, Larry Allen Hourihan, Lisa Amanda Londono, Anselmo Villalobos-Alcala, Jorge Louis Guittercz-Iberria, Noel Adan Verdin-Aldama on several charges including: Trafficking Heroin (Conspiracy) > 28 grams, Four Counts Trafficking Heroin > 28 grams, Trafficking Heroin 14-28 grams, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.

Peter Turanec is expected to turn himself into authorities

Federal and State drug charges in South Carolina carry some of the stiffest penalties in the nation. When faced with a drug charge, you need a lawyer who knows how the system works and will fight to protect your rights.

The drug possession and drug trafficking lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC,  include a former United States Attorney and Richland County Assistant Solicitor, a former Public Defender, and a former Assistant Attorney General and Richland County Assistant Solicitor. Mr. Strom has been given an AV-Rating, the highest ranking possible, from the respected legal guide Martindale-Hubble.

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