DARLINGTON COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - Darlington County officials are cracking down to get drug traffickers off the streets. I-95 is known for being a 'drug corridor', but officials are focusing on a different area.
Since the Darlington County's Interdiction Team was created in 2009, officials say about a million dollars worth of drugs has been taken off the streets during traffic stops.
But now the Interdiction Team is relieving more crime than ever.
"When we say interdiction, it entails more than just drugs, they're looking for any type of criminal activity," said Sheriff Wayne Byrd.
Interdiction officers tell me they've discovered and confiscated illegal guns, counterfeit goods and made about 50 fugitive arrests over the years.
But officials say they've noticed a rise in drug trafficking along Interstate 20.
"We're in a unique situation in Darlington, over the last few years Atlanta has become more of a source city, and even more recently in Charlotte, a source city for drugs," said Byrd.
I-95 has been the widely talked-about "drug corridor", but officials in Darlington County say their focus is I-20, which they've noticed has picked up in drug activity.
"Some of those criminals are using the same routes as tourists use, so we put our guys out there to try to pick out those criminals and take them off the roads," said Byrd.
And that's what happened just a few days ago when Jorge Cota and Angela Bond, both from Texas, were pulled over along I-20 in Darlington County.
After a brief interview, the deputies K-9's reportedly sniffed out eight kilos of cocaine in a hidden compartment of their Nissan.
Now the two are behind bars, and officials say that stop may have avoided drug crime in an area surrounding Darlington County.
"If you can stop drugs or any kind of other illegal activity from happening in Florence or Myrtle Beach, or somewhere else, it certainly is good for them, but it's good for us as well because all of that stuff eventually filters back here," said Byrd.
Darlington County interdiction officers say they can only pull over anyone with a traffic infraction - but they have the skills to notice if there may be any other illegal activity going on.
"I'd like to say it wasn't luck but luck certainly plays a big part in it, but it's more a matter of having an officer who's very observant and a very good interviewer and he can look for things that are out of the ordinary," said Byrd.
Interdiction officers also have their own K-9's with them and if they suspect any drugs are in the vehicle, the dogs can help with a sniff search.
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