GREER, SC- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it has undertaken two major highway safety operations in coordination with South Carolina law enforcement agencies, called “Operation Safe Drive” and “Operation Rubber Duck.” The efforts took place between May 12 and May 14, and targeted commercial vehicles, fraudulent truck drivers, illegal operator licenses and immigration violations. The operations removed dangerous criminal and illegal alien individuals from the community. All told, the team arrested 114 individuals for immigration and criminal violations while also seizing illegal drugs and cash.
Operation Safe Drive was conducted along I-26 and included ICE’s Removal and Operations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the State Transit Police, the Duncan Police Department and other local police departments.. It focused on improving road safety, enforcing immigration laws, and increasing collaboration with local partners. It is intended to protect the public and included numerous arrests for administrative and criminal violations along with significant seizures of cocaine and cash, the agency announced.
“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 was led by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division, targeting fraudulent commercial driver’s license holders, individuals with illegal operator licenses, and over-the-road truck drivers along I-85 near Greer, S.C. That 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. It resulted in numerous arrests for criminal and administrative 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, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina.
In total, the combined operation resulted in:
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,” the agency wrote.
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