Horry County police task force arrests 80 with alleged ties to violent crimes, gang activity

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Horry County police have arrested 80 people tied to violent crimes along the Highway 9 corridor, seizing thousands in cash and pulling large amounts of drugs off the street in the process, authorities said on Tuesday.

The two-week operation focused on areas mostly between Little River and Loris, with some activities branching into Conway and Myrtle Beach.

Officials said the department’s criminal investigations bureau worked alongside a newly formed gang unit with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Marshal’s Service, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.

Authorities began “tracking a trend of attempted murders, murders, home invasions, carjacking incidents, auto thefts and drive-by shootings in the northern and western parts of the county,” Horry County police said in a statement.

Among those arrested were 46 wanted on various charges. Roughly 40 gang members were also identified over the course of the investigation.

The following items were seized:

• 58 weapons
• $18,180 in cash
• 64.6 grams of methamphetamine
• 55 grams of fentanyl
• 35.8 of crack cocaine
• 47.8 grams of cocaine

Authorities provided no further details.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

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