Federal investigators say the organization funneled more than 55 kilograms of narcotics and millions in drug proceeds into South Carolina before its disruption.
FLORENCE, SC — Federal prosecutors say a Mexican national who led an international drug trafficking organization has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine in South Carolina, including directly into Horry County.
According to evidence presented in federal court, 40‑year‑old Rafael Contreras Ramos oversaw a drug pipeline that moved more than 40 kilograms of cocaine, 14 kilograms of fentanyl, and 1 kilogram of heroin into the state. Investigators said the organization operated primarily out of Tucson, Arizona, with connections in Las Vegas, Burlington, North Carolina, and Horry County, SC. The network was supplied and supported by a Mexican cartel.
The FBI identified Contreras’ group as a source of supply to a local drug network during a 2021 joint investigation with local, state, and federal agencies.
Agents later confirmed that Contreras and his associates had been trafficking narcotics into Horry County since at least 2016, continuing until federal charges disrupted the operation in 2022.
Prosecutors said the organization collected more than $5 million in drug proceeds during that period.
U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling said the case reflects ongoing efforts to cut off narcotics at their source. FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore said Contreras’ actions contributed to violence and addiction in Horry County, adding that investigators are targeting entire trafficking networks, not just individual dealers.
Horry County Sheriff’s Office officials emphasized the collaborative nature of the investigation, noting the local impact of the case.
“Investigations of this scale take a team of people, and our office stands ready to assist,” the agency said in a statement. “This case marks justice for Horry County citizens who have lost loved ones to addiction and violence perpetrated by international drug trafficking organizations.”
Contreras was arrested in Mexico and extradited to the United States. He remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing. U.S. District Judge Joseph Dawson accepted his guilty plea. Contreras faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life. After serving his sentence, he will be deported to Mexico.
The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative created under Executive Order 14159, which focuses on dismantling criminal cartels, transnational gangs, and human trafficking networks.
The investigation involved the FBI Columbia Field Office, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, and Horry County Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian is prosecuting the case.
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