ICE and partners arrest scores of illegal aliens and criminals in South Carolina highway operations

GREER, S.C. - ICE, in partnership with South Carolina law enforcement agencies, completed two major highway enforcement operations, Operation Safe Drive and Operation Rubber Duck, from May 12 to May 14. The coordinated efforts targeted commercial vehicles, fraudulent truck drivers, illegal operator licenses and immigration violations, resulting in the removal of dangerous criminal and illegal alien individuals from the community. In total, the team made 114 arrests for immigration and criminal violations and seized illegal drugs and cash.

Operation Safe Drive

ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations, along with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the State Transit Police, the Duncan Police Department and local police departments, conducted an enforcement operation along I-26. The operation focused on improving road safety, enforcing immigration laws, and strengthening collaboration with local partners to protect the public, resulting in numerous arrests for administrative and criminal violations and significant seizures of cocaine and cash.

"By working together, we are able to protect South Carolina families from the threats posed by criminal activity and unsafe drivers," said ERO Atlanta Field Office Director LaDeon Francis. "These operations highlight the power of partnership in removing dangerous individuals from our roads and communities, making South Carolina safer for everyone."

Operation Rubber Duck

ICE's Homeland Security Investigations led Operation Rubber Duck, targeting fraudulent commercial driver's license holders, individuals with illegal operator licenses, and over-the-road truck drivers along I-85 near Greer. The operation was conducted in partnership with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina State Transport Division, the Duncan Police Department, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. The operation resulted in numerous arrests for administrative and criminal violations and significant seizures of cocaine and cash.

"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.

The combined operation totals are as follows:

• 114 criminal and administrative arrests
• 10 kilograms of cocaine seized with an estimated value of $200,000
• 145 vehicle stops and 77 inspections
• 89 citations for traffic and safety violations
• 22 drivers and vehicles removed from service

ICE and its partners remain committed to safeguarding the public through ongoing, collaborative enforcement efforts that address threats and uphold the law.

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