PRESS RELEASE
March 31, 2016

FCSO Criminal Enforcement Unit Makes Major Cocaine Arrests

SUBJECT: Ruddy Antonio Iglesia, age 35, of 18 Harbor Terrace Apartments, Perth Amboy, New Jersey was arrested on March 29, 2016 by deputies with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and charged with Trafficking in Cocaine (S.C. Code Ann. 44-53-370). See FCSO Booking Website for additional information.

SUBJECT: Franklin Benjamin Lamtigua, age 41, of 566 Groom Street, New Jersey, New Jersey was arrested on March 29, 2016 by deputies with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and charged with Trafficking in Cocaine (S.C. Code Ann. 44-53-370). See FCSO Booking Website for additional details.

NARRATIVE: Specially trained interdiction officers assigned to the FCSO Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) arrested two suspects and charged them with Trafficking in Cocaine. At approximately 10:00 AM on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 a deputy initiated a traffic stop for a moving violation in the northbound lane of I-95, and after developing reasonable suspicion of ongoing criminal activity, obtained consent to search the vehicle. The search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 125 pounds (field weight) of powder cocaine packaged in 50 separate units of approximately 2.2 pounds each. The estimated street value of this amount of cocaine is approximately $6,000,000.00.

Bonds for both Iglesia and Lamtigua were denied by a Florence County Magistrate. Under South Carolina law, Trafficking in Cocaine is a felony punishable by a mandatory prison term of between 25 and 30 years. The investigation into this incident is ongoing and additional charges are possible.

“This highly successful and nationally recognized Criminal Enforcement Unit continues to make us proud in their relentless pursuit of the criminal element,” Sheriff Kenney Boone stated. “We will continue to do our part to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our communities and beyond.”


END

Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.