Two brothers face federal drug charges after law enforcement said it seized 156 pounds of fentanyl in South Carolina.
The U.S. Attorney's Office of South Carolina said in a July 23 news release that it's the largest seizure of fentanyl in state history.
Delano, California, brothers Alberto Rios-Landeros, 26, and Chris Guadalupe Rios-Landeros, 23, were indicted July 22 on charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine.
They both face up to life in prison if convicted.
The drugs were found July 1 after local and federal officers made two traffic stops on a tractor-trailer that was transporting business products. Inside the truck, the U.S. Attorney's Office said officers discovered the drugs, including 44 pounds of methamphetamine.
The release said officials believe the drugs came from Mexico and were driven across the border.
The amount of fentanyl seized was enough to potentially kill 36 million people, officials said.
“This isn't just a drug bust; it's a life-saving intervention on an unprecedented scale for our state,” South Carolina's U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling said. “Law enforcement has been working together at every level to keep South Carolina safe, and we’re committed to dismantling the criminal networks that bring this poison into our communities."
