DEA nabs two brothers using big rig to haul largest amount of fentanyl ever seized in South Carolina history

Two brothers have been indicted following the seizure of an historic amount of illegal drugs from a semi truck operating in South Carolina.

On July 22, 2025, brothers Alberto Rios-Landeros, 26, and Chris Guadalupe Rios-Landeros, 23, both of Delano, California, were indicted on charges of conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.

The charges stem from a pair of coordinated traffic stops in Lexington and Richland counties conducted on July 1, 2025, by Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies, and South Carolina State Transport Police.

“Inside a tractor trailer that was transporting products with a legitimate business purpose, law enforcement also found large packages of illegal narcotics … Two brothers [Alberto Rios-Landeros and Chris Guadalupe Rios-Landeros] operating the tractor trailer were arrested following the traffic stop,” authorities said.

Law enforcement seized 156 pounds of fentanyl and 44 pounds of methamphetamine in total from the tractor trailer. The drugs are believed to have been sourced from Mexico.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that this is “believed to be the largest seizure of fentanyl in state history.”

The Rios-Landeros brothers face a maximum sentence of life in prison.

“This isn’t just a drug bust; it’s a life-saving intervention on an unprecedented scale for our state,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Law enforcement has been working together at every level to keep South Carolina safe, and we’re committed to dismantling the criminal networks that bring this poison into our communities.”

“The DEA and our partners are working hard day in and day out to protect our communities from the dangers associated with fentanyl.  DEA’s priorities are to save American lives and to keep our communities safe,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division.  “We will continue to leverage every partnership, and every resource available to ensure drug traffickers who distribute fentanyl, are brought to justice.”

“This was a great example of how law enforcement works together to make our community safer. I am proud of the work and collaboration of all the agencies involved to take this massive amount of drugs off of our streets,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “This should send a strong message to criminals that we are all working together to combat illegal drugs.”