3 MB men arrested in large-scale drug raid

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/my ... 284257.htm

Posted on Wed, Aug. 16, 2006

3 MB men arrested in large-scale drug raid

From staff and wire reports

POLICE

COLUMBIA

Three Myrtle Beach men were among more than 100 people from across South Carolina and several other states arrested Tuesday in connection with an international heroin pipeline that authorities said flooded the streets with a potentially deadly form of the drug.

Most of the 26 defendants from South Carolina, picked up in early morning raids, are scheduled to make initial court appearances on Thursday, according to authorities.

Two suspects facing charges in South Carolina were caught in Los Angeles, authorities said.

More arrests are expected.

Myrtle Beach residents Sigfriedo Garcia-Lopez, 24, Jorge Eduardo Velazquez-Guerrero, 22, and Jesus Sanches Pelayo, 27, were among those charged, federal authorities said.

Numerous others from Columbia, Charleston and Greenville also are in custody.

The men are charged in two indictments that allege a black tar heroin conspiracy, authorities said.

Dubbed "Operation Black Gold Rush," the drug operation, which authorities contend was being run by over 100 illegal immigrants extended from Mexico to Tennessee.

Specializing in black tar heroin - a potent, dark and sticky narcotic - the group operated in Columbia, Charleston, North Charleston and Greenville, authorities said.

The Drug Enforcement led investigation begin in November of 2005 but later grew to include a host of local, state and federal agencies as far away as California.

It drives me nuts that they are always identified as "from Myrtle Beach" or "3 Greenville men". They are NOT from MB or Greenville. Identify them as Mexicans, Irish, ElSalvadorans, Germans, whatever. They are NOT from SC! Currently squatting in SC, maybe...

You are right on Ronny. Call a pig a pig and not a resident of Myrtle Beach. One hundred illegals huh? I bet that there are more than that involved. Naturally, all residents of NC, TN, CA, TX and AZ. Opps..and some from Washington D.C.

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/my ... 302513.htm

Local police help bust heroin ring
By Tonya Root
The Sun News

Myrtle Beach and Horry County police arrested 49 of the 138 people charged earlier this week in connection with an international heroin pipeline that brought the drug into the area, according to a news release.

More arrests and charges could occur as police continue their investigation into the drug ring, Myrtle Beach police Capt. David Knipes said.

Federal, state and local authorities conducted early morning raids Tuesday throughout South Carolina and around the U.S., including Los Angeles, as part of a drug operation dubbed "Operation Black Gold Rush." In Myrtle Beach, officials called their sting "Operation Balloon Ride," as a spin-off on the federal bust.

Authorities said the drug ring was being run by more than 100 illegal immigrants. It stretched from Mexico to Tennessee and it specialized in black tar heroin - a potent, dark and sticky narcotic. In South Carolina, officials said the group operated in Columbia, Charleston, North Charleston and Greenville as well as Myrtle Beach.

The Drug Enforcement Agency led the investigation that began in November of 2005, but officials said it later grew to include a host of local, state and federal agencies and the investigation is not over.

"The investigation could still lead to additional arrests," Knipes said.

Locally, he said police arrested 30 people from Myrtle Beach, five from Surfside Beach, four from Conway, and three each from Murrells Inlet and Garden City Beach. Residents from Sunset Beach, N.C., and Elwood, Ind., also were arrested along the Grand Strand. Their ages ranged from 20 to 59.

Local police worked for 14 hours Tuesday making the arrests and all those arrested were charged with conspiracy to possess heroin as well as other charges specific to that person.

In his press release, Knipes said heroin buyers would come to Myrtle Beach to purchase the black tar heroin from the local drug traffickers, who were based out of Nayarit, Mexico.
Contact TONYA ROOT at 248-2149 or troot@thesunnews.com.