Feds Seize 156 Pounds of Fentanyl in South Carolina – Enough To Kill Over 35 Million People

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Charlotte Stories
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Federal agents recently seized over 156 pounds of fentanyl in Lexington County, South Carolina, as part of a major anti-drug operation.

According to the DEA, just two milligrams of fentanyl—about the size of a few grains of salt—can be lethal. One kilogram (2.2 pounds) of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. Therefore, the 156 pounds seized in Lexington County—roughly 71 kilograms—could have potentially killed over 35 million people.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), working with SC state and local partners, also recovered 44 pounds of methamphetamine and a firearm. One suspect was arrested but not yet identified.

The operation is part of a nationwide crackdown that has already yielded substantial results. So far in 2025, authorities have confiscated nearly 44 million fentanyl pills, 4,500 pounds of fentanyl powder, and 65,000 pounds of methamphetamine across the country.

“Our DEA agents are doing historic work to keep our communities safe from deadly drugs like fentanyl and dismantle the cartels selling them,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in an official Justice Department press release. “I want to remind all Americans to exercise extreme caution: a pill can kill.”

Officials say the Lexington County case highlights the scale and urgency of the ongoing fentanyl crisis. They continue to emphasize collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies in curbing drug trafficking.

Summary of Other Recent DEA Operations:

  • Lexington County, SC: Seized 156 lbs of fentanyl, 44 lbs of meth, a firearm; one arrest.

  • Gainesville, GA: Seized 705 lbs of meth hidden in cucumbers; two arrests.

  • Minneapolis, MN: Recovered 889 lbs of meth and a handgun; three arrests.

  • Kern County, CA: Shut down meth lab; seized 240 lbs of crystal meth and 151 gallons of liquid meth; five arrests.

  • Fresno, CA: Seized 24 lbs of carfentanyl disguised as pills—largest in Northern California.

  • Galveston, TX: Found 1,700 lbs of meth worth $15M hidden in a vehicle.

  • Austin, TX: Seized 783 lbs of meth inside a truck carrying blueberries.

  • IN/KY/AZ (multi-state): Confiscated 59 illegal firearms, 74 lbs meth, 11 lbs fentanyl, 11 lbs cocaine; 23 arrests.

  • Miami, FL: Seized $10M in crypto linked to the Sinaloa cartel.

  • El Paso, TX: Found 115 lbs of meth in a GPS-tracked vehicle.

  • Omaha, NE: Dismantled poly-drug ring; seized guns and fentanyl pills.