South Carolina police seize drugs during undercover action

On Behalf of | Apr 22, 2018 | Drug Charges |

Police in South Carolina have reported that an undercover operation conducted in Columbia’s Millwood Avenue corridor on April 11 led to the seizure of more than $13,000 in currency, almost a pound of marijuana and about one gram of crack cocaine. Two men were also taken into custody during the covert investigation, which was carried out by members of the Columbia Police Department’s Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit.

A 55-year-old man was charged with heroin trafficking, cocaine possession and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. A 42-year-old Baltimore man is also facing a count of marijuana possession with the intent to distribute after allegedly attempting to purchase about $10,000 worth of the drug from undercover officers. Police say that the operation was part of an ongoing effort to curb the distribution and sale of illegal drugs in the area.

Both of the men taken into custody were transferred to the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center after being processed. The 55-year-old man was released after meeting his $50,000 bond according to reports. However, a records check is said to have discovered that the 42-year-old man has outstanding warrants from Florida and his home state of Maryland. Reports indicate that he is being held in lieu of a $25,000 bond and both states have obtained fugitive arrest warrants.

Police officers are permitted to work undercover and pose as drug dealers, but there are strict limits on how far they can go to secure an arrest. Experienced criminal defense attorneys might be able to claim entrapment and seek to have drug trafficking charges dismissed when law enforcement may have induced their clients into acts that they would otherwise have been unlikely to commit.

Source: Myrtle Beach Online, He tried to buy more than $10K of marijuana. Now this wanted man is in jail, cops say, Noah Feit, April 18, 2018

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