By admin 
Thirty-one people have been indicted on drug trafficking charges that grew out of an investigation at a nightclub in the Charleston area.
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Attorney General Alan Wilson said those charged had connections to gangs and two Mexican cartels.
“Narcotics trafficking from Mexican cartels poses a threat to national security, and I commend our partner agencies for doing the difficult and dangerous job of investigating and apprehending alleged gang- and cartel-affiliated individuals,” Wilson said.
In total the 31 defendants face 59 charges over five indictments.
Most of the charges revolved around activity in Charleston County, the attorney general’s office said.
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Wilson said Operation Last Stand grew out of investigations into unsanctioned nightclubs known for drawing large crowds, including gang members and people in the country without legal status. The clubs became hubs for narcotics trafficking, prostitution and gang violence, the attorney general’s office said.
Among those to participate in the investigation were Homeland Security Investigations Charleston field office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), and other law enforcement agencies.
“This multifaceted investigation encompassed multiple criminal enterprises, including sex trafficking, firearms trafficking, drug trafficking, and gang violence. Families across South Carolina fell victim to these vast illicit networks that put communities across our state at risk,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel.
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