GREER, S.C. — Federal immigration officers and South Carolina law enforcement arrested 114 people on criminal and immigration violations and seized 10 kilograms of cocaine valued at $200,000 during two coordinated highway enforcement operations along Interstates 85 and 26 last month, ICE announced.
The three-day operations, dubbed Operation Safe Drive and Operation Rubber Duck, ran from May 12 to May 14 and targeted commercial vehicles, fraudulent truck drivers, illegal operator licenses, and immigration violations. Officers conducted 145 vehicle stops and 77 inspections, issued 89 citations for traffic and safety violations, and removed 22 drivers and their vehicles from service.
“By working together, we are able to protect South Carolina families from the threats posed by criminal activity and unsafe drivers,” said LaDeon Francis, ERO Atlanta field office director. “These operations highlight the power of partnership in removing dangerous individuals from our roads and communities, making South Carolina safer for everyone.”
Operation Safe Drive, led by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, ran along I-26 in partnership with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the State Transit Police, and the Duncan Police Department. The operation focused on road safety and immigration enforcement, producing arrests and significant seizures of cocaine and cash.
Operation Rubber Duck, led by Homeland Security Investigations along I-85 near Greer, targeted fraudulent commercial driver’s license holders and illegal operator licenses among over-the-road truck drivers. HSI partnered with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina State Transport Division, the Duncan Police Department, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.
“Operation Rubber Duck underscores that Homeland Security Investigations and our partners will aggressively pursue, disrupt and dismantle criminal networks that threaten our communities,” said Mark M. Zito, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina.
ICE said it remains committed to ongoing collaborative enforcement operations targeting illegal immigrants and criminal networks operating on South Carolina highways.