10 agencies team up for Operation Ice Storm; 25 arrests made, including 5 fugitives with warrants and 3 aliens who will be placed into removal proceedings by ICE

The impact of law enforcement inter-agency cooperation was on full display during Sumter County Sheriff’s Office’s Operation “ICE” Storm last week as nine agencies converged on I-95 to assert Interstate Criminal Enforcement.

The presence of law enforcement agencies saturating a section of the interstate during the operation not only promoted safety and prevented wrecks, but also protected the public by arresting criminals.

Some of the finest officers from 10 agencies gathered in Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Training Center on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 23, to prepare themselves for a safe week of enforcing the law and protecting citizens from criminals. Following dinner, Sheriff Anthony Dennis greeted the visiting agencies, and key operation organizers conducted a briefing.

The participating agencies include:
• The City of North Augusta Police Department
• Aiken County Sheriff’s Office
• Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office
• The City of Darlington Police Department
• The City of Florence Police Department
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP)/Air and Marine Operations (AMO), Jacksonville, FL
• South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED)
• The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office
• Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office

Also participating in the operation were air units from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and Customs and Border Protection.

While enforcing traffic laws, Operation Ice Storm completed 1,250 traffic stops for violations.

Fifty of those stops required officers to deploy K-9s. One missing person was located who had been reported missing by family members from Florence County. The individual was found to be safe, and their family was notified.

Officers seized illegal drugs, firearms, counterfeit goods and illicitly gained currency during traffic stops.

Seizures:
• 1,112 grams of methamphetamine
• 469.5 grams of marijuana
• Eight grams of crack cocaine
• Six firearms
• $337,850 in counterfeit goods
• $10,680 in illicitly gained currency

The operation also recovered one stolen vehicle, several stolen IDs and credit cards with a card reader used in fraud.

Twenty-five arrests were made, including five fugitives with warrants and three aliens who will be placed into removal proceedings by ICE.

“We know these fine officers do excellent work every day in their respective jurisdictions, and to have them partner with us for this operation was an honor and a powerful testimony of their professionalism,” said Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis.