The Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) continues its effort to prioritize the identification and removal of dangerous drug networks within the Greenville communities.
DEU Commander Bart McEntire announces the recent success of operations targeting two upper level heroin/fentanyl/methamphetamine dealers.
Commander McEntire states, “DEU made a commitment to go after those individuals who continue to supply the proliferation of the drugs of death to our communities. We have focused our efforts on dismantling high- level drug dealers and the supply chains of those operations. Each time we can have success in arresting high value targets and dismantle the supply of those drugs, we have a positive impact within communities.”
On October 1, 2020, DEU moved against an illicit pill press operation operating from an apartment complex located on Cedar Lane Road in Greenville.
A search warrant was served on the apartment complex where investigators found evidence of the pill press operation.
Due to the potential dangerous levels of powders and drugs used to make illicit pressed pills, DEU enlisted the aid of South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to assist in the evidence recovery and safety procedures in processing the hazardous area.
DEU was also supported in this investigation by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Gang Unit.
Investigators located approximately 3.6 ounces of methamphetamine and 4 ounces of fentanyl on scene.
One subject, Shaunte Lane (DOB 09/14/1978) was arrested and charged with trafficking heroin/fentanyl and trafficking methamphetamine.
Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis explained “much like methamphetamine laboratories, illicit pill press operations present unique challenges to the safety of our law enforcement officers. These operations use binding agents, cutting agents, and dangerous drug combinations to create a poison pill of death. During the creation of these pills, the necessary powdered particles embed themselves in every crook and crevice of a location making it necessary to respond with trained emergency hazardous teams. DEU has become very adept and knowledgeable in handling these operations to ensure the safety of officers as well as the community.”
On October 2, 2020, after an investigation identified a heroin/fentanyl dealer operating from an apartment complex on Century Drive in the city of Greenville, DEU investigators awaited the arrival of a vehicle to the apartment complex.
Upon observing the vehicle arrive DEU investigators intercepted the driver and located a large quantity of methamphetamine and heroin.
During a search of the apartment, an additional quantity of 86 grams of methamphetamine, 72.3 grams of heroin, three firearms, a kilo/tablet press, a quantity of white counterfeit Xanax, 11 ounces of unidentified powders, a small quantity of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were found.
Additionally, investigators found a large amount of counterfeit $20 and $50 U.S. Treasury bills.
DEU was assisted in the investigation by the Greenville Police Department Crime Response Team.
Arrested at the location was Michael Kennedy (DOB: 04/23/1993). Kennedy was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and trafficking in heroin.
Greenville Police Chief J.H. Thompson commented “The Greenville community has been losing far too many people to drug overdoses and the violence associated with drug crimes. The individuals arrested in both DEU operations were on supervised release with a history of violent crime. I believe the efforts of DEU not only have a positive effect on the drug trafficking in the community, but also assist in removing violent offenders from our communities. With the cooperation among DEU and components of the police department, such as the Community Action Team, the expectation is to continue to pressure the drug traffickers and reduce the illicit drug flow.”
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