61 charged in year-long Lancaster Co. drug investigation

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — Lancaster County Sheriff's deputies have charged 61 people in a year-long drug investigation.

Deputies said Operation Stamp Out targeted drug distribution in the county, targeting major drug suppliers and serving warrants.

The 61 people were charged with a total of 177 offenses, including trafficking marijuana, trafficking cocaine and crack cocaine and a number of distribution charges related to the drugs and weapons violations.

During the investigation, deputies seized 32 grams of crack cocaine, 629 grams of cocaine, 343 doses of prescription controlled substances, 27 pounds of marijuana, 12 firearms and more than $10,000 in cash.

The estimated total value of the seizures was $70,000.

"This latest crackdown is merely another phase in our ongoing battle to get illicit drugs off our streets and keep them off our streets for as long as we can. Many of these offenders are also linked to violent crimes that occur in our county and we are committed to getting them off the street," said Sheriff Barry S. Faile.  All of the officers involved in this operation worked extremely hard to make this operation a success and I am grateful for that hard work."

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