8 Arrested in Multi-County Indoor Marijuana Bust

Eight people have been arrested and more than 700 marijuana plants have been seized following an eight-month investigation of an indoor marijuana growing operation in Lexington, Richland and Orangeburg counties, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced Friday.

Search warrants were executed at three locations in Lexington County and four in Orangeburg County, according to a release. The high-grade marijuana plants, found at five locations in the Midlands, are valued at more than $3.5 million.

The following people were arrested Wednesday and charged with trafficking marijuana by the manufacture of more than 100 plants of marijuana:  

• Yaima Perez Castillo, 29, of Swansea
• Yancarlos Cuervo, 32, of Gaston
• Robiel Rodriguez Gonzalez, 40, of Orangeburg
• Gustavo Del Sol Sanchez, 42
• Osniel Garcia Santana, 38, of North
• Manuel Suarez, 37, of Swansea
• Janesky Vasquez, 36, of Orangeburg
• Ivis Ahimara Reyes Yedra, 24, of North

More arrests are expected as the investigation, which began in January, continues.

Agents from local, state and federal agencies conducted the joint investigation. The case will be prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office.