AG Alan Wilson announces 12 arrests in the Midlands as a result of Operation ‘Ganjapreneur’

State House Reporter Mary Green will have more on this tonight.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson held a press conference with state and local law enforcement leaders Friday about a massive coordinated drug bust in the state.

The operation, known as “Ganjapreneur,” targeted distributors and wholesalers of THC products, which are openly sold in South Carolina stores but are illegal. Wilson said in a statement that the products are “highly intoxicating” and that the packaging is designed “to appeal to children and teens.”

“A stand needed to be made against stores openly selling illegal THC products, many of which are dangerously potent and clearly marketed to attract children and teens,” Wilson said in a statement.

The Attorney General’s Office, joined by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), executed search and seizure warrants on locations and individuals around the state, including at Southern Wholesale warehouse in Columbia.

Six warehouses and residents, one retail store and two storage units were searched, which resulted in the seizure of 30,000 pounds of various illegal products, including marijuana, pre-rolled joints, edibles, vapes, oils and syrups. Proceeds from the illegal sales of these products were also taken and totaled almost $2 million.

More than 30 county and town law enforcement agencies also conducted their own operations at the same time throughout the state.

“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 in a statement. “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.”

The searches and seizures led to 12 arrests of individuals located in Richland and Lexington counties who notched a total of 40 narcotics-related charges.

The full list of suspects can be found below.

SHAZAN GHANI

Shazan was arrested on the following charges in Richland County:

• 4 counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• 5 counts of trafficking marijuana between 10 and 100 pounds
• 8 counts of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance

He was also arrested on one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana in Lexington County

Shazan’s bond was set as a $100,000 surety in Richland and a $100,000 surety in Lexington

ZEESHAN GHANI

Zeeshan was arrested on the following charges in Richland County:

• 5 counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• 6 counts of trafficking marijuana between 10 and 100 pounds
• 8 counts of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance

He was also arrested on one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana in Lexington County.

Zeeshan received a $120,000 surety bond.

ZANIRA SAFRI

Safri was arrested on the following charges in Richland County:

• 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance
• 1 count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• 1 count of trafficking marijuana between 10 and 100 pounds

She was granted a $75,000 surety bond.

RIZWAN RASHYANI

Rashyani was arrested on the following charges in Richland County:

• 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance
• 1 count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• 1 count of trafficking marijuana between 10 and 100 pounds

He was granted a $75,000 surety bond.

BHAVIK PATEL

Patel was arrested on one charge of trafficking marijuana between 10 and 100 pounds in Lexington County. He received a $75,000 surety bond.

FADI MUNEER ZUHOUR

Zuhour was arrested on these charges in Richland County:

• 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• 1 count of trafficking marijuana between 10 and 100 pounds

He received a $75,000 surety bond.

MOHAMED A. ISA

Isa was arrested on these charges in Richland County:

• 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• 4 counts of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance

He was granted a $75,000 surety bond.

MUHAMMAD USMAN BUTT

Butt was arrested on these charges in Richland County:

• 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• 1 count of trafficking marijuana between 10 and 100 pounds
• 1 count of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule 1 controlled substance

His surety bond was set at $50,000.

AHAD SHAFIQ

Shafiq, a Louisiana resident, was charged with the following in Richland County:

• 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance
• 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• 1 count of trafficking marijuana between 10 and 100 pounds

His bond amount is still pending.

ASIM PERVAIZ

Pervaiz was charged with the following in Richland County.

• 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled substance
• 2 counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana
• 1 count of trafficking marijuana between 10 and 100 pounds

His bond amount is still pending.

Other partners joining the AG’s office, DEA and SLED include Homeland Security, the FBI, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, City of Columbia Police Department, Airport Police Department and the University of South Carolina Police Department.

These departments also received more assistance from the Governor’s Counterdrug Task Force, South Carolina National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore.

“Synthetic chemicals are among the most dangerous substances circulating in the illicit market today. They are potent, unpredictable, and often engineered to evade traditional detection,” Robert J. Murphy, special agent in charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, said in a statement. “Thanks to the combined efforts of our partnering agencies, we were able to intercept these chemicals before they could cause further harm. This investigation demonstrates our shared commitment to safeguarding the communities we serve and holding those who traffic in these substances accountable.”

A spokesperson for South Carolina Healthy Alternatives Association issued a response to Wilson’s press conference, calling on state lawmakers to pass a law regulating the hemp industry.

“Today’s press conference with Attorney General Alan Wilson and SLED Chief Mark Keel underscores what South Carolina hemp growers and industry stakeholders have been saying for years: our industry needs to be clearly regulated. This week, multiple law-abiding business owners across South Carolina were arrested and hit with unreasonable drug trafficking charges when their businesses were swarmed by law enforcement officers and their legal products and hard-earned dollars were seized. Nothing in South Carolina’s state statutes bans or regulates the sale of hemp or hemp-derived products. Rather than expose South Carolinians to more unnecessary law enforcement action, we call on policymakers to step up and do what we’ve been asking for years – regulate the hemp industry in South Carolina, so everyone understands the rules of the game. "

Spokesperson for South Carolina Healthy Alternatives Association

The cases are set to be prosecuted by Assistant Attorney Generals Jennifer McKellar and Tom Conrad and State Grand Jury Division Chief Attorney Creighton Waters.

Watch the full press conference in the video above.

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