SLED Joins State Grand Jury Operation ‘Ganjapreneur’ Involving Illegal THC Products Sold in SC Businesses

Today, SLED joined local and federal law enforcement partners as well as the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office following a statewide investigation and arrests related to State Grand Jury Operation ‘Ganjapreneur’ involving illegal THC products sold in SC businesses.

 

 “These suppliers sought to peddle these products to anyone who would buy them. In turn, they were directly profiting off the backs of our children. It is unconscionable,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “Today, I want to make it clear: law enforcement in South Carolina stands united in our effort to rid our state of these dangerous, illicit products.”

 

 On December 9, 2025, law enforcement conducted a joint operation which executed search and seizure warrants on multiple locations and which served arrest warrants on indicted individuals. The operation resulted in the arrest of the 12 defendants, who are alleged to be the wholesale distributors of large amounts of these illegal products to various retail establishments. The operation resulted in the search of 6 warehouses, 6 residences, 1 retail business, and 2 storage units.  Approximately eight large 26-foot box trucks of allegedly illegal products were seized at these locations, totaling over 30,000 pounds of product, or 15 tons. The seized products included marijuana, pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes, vapes, oils, dabs, syrups, and edibles. Proceeds and assets of the illegal enterprises alleged in the indictments were seized as well, totaling approximately $2 million. Over 30 county and local agencies also conducted their own simultaneous operations throughout the State.

 

 Participating agencies in Operation Ganjapreneur included SLED, the DEA, the Attorney General’s State Grand Jury Division, as well as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, City of Columbia Police Department, Airport Police Department, and the University of South Carolina Police Department, the South Carolina Governor’s Counterdrug Task Force, and South Carolina National Guard Counterdrug Task Force. Special assistance was provided by the East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore. The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Jennifer McKellar, Assistant Attorney General John Conrad, and State Grand Jury Division Chief Attorney S. Creighton Waters.