25 charged in SC dogfighting, drug trafficking ring

By
FOX Local
Published October 22, 2026 1:58 PM CDT

One of the 47 dogs seized in the dogfighting ring (South Carolina attorney general's office)

The Brief

    • South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson says 25 people are facing a collective 129 charges in connection to an alleged dogfighting and drug trafficking ring. 
    • Authorities said 47 dogs were seized, and some of them will likely have to be euthanized. 
    • Wilson called the operation a "scourge" on communities in South Carolina, "both large and small."

Investigators in South Carolina have seized 47 dogs and several pounds of narcotics tied to a large-scale dogfighting and drug trafficking ring, the state’s attorney general announced. 

According to South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, 25 people are facing a collective 129 charges in connection to the alleged crime ring. Five of the defendants are inmates in South Carolina state prisons. 

South Carolina dogfighting ring

What they're saying:

Wilson said the trafficking group was primarily based in Chester and Lancaster counties, where the suspects reportedly trafficked large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl and marijuana, in addition to dogfighting. 

By the numbers:

So far, investigators say they have seized 2.62 pounds of fentanyl, 6.88 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.21 pounds of cocaine, 4.5 ounces of crack cocaine, 2.5 pounds of marijuana and more than 30 guns. Investigators also seized 47 dogs and over 10,000 pressed fentanyl pills, as well as more suspected fentanyl and firearms that haven’t been counted yet. 

Authorities said some of the dogs will likely have to be euthanized. 

Evidence seized in dogfighting, drug investigation (South Carolina attorney general's office)
Evidence seized in dogfighting, drug investigation (South Carolina attorney general's office)
Evidence seized in dogfighting, drug investigation (South Carolina attorney general's office)
One of the 47 dogs seized in the dogfighting ring (South Carolina attorney general's office)
Evidence seized in dogfighting, drug investigation (South Carolina attorney general's office)
Evidence seized in dogfighting, drug investigation (South Carolina attorney general's office)

Wilson called the operation a "scourge" on communities in South Carolina, "both large and small."

RELATED: Search warrant leads to rescue of over 40 dogs and puppies from alleged dog fighting operation

"It’s unfortunately all too common to see allegations of drug trafficking, felony possession of firearms, and dogfighting all together," State Grand Jury Division Chief Attorney Creighton Waters said in a news release.  

Dig deeper:

The latest dogfighting ring announcement comes more than two months after more than 40 dogs were rescued from an alleged dog fighting ring in Berkeley County, South Carolina. 

Authorities there said at the time that no arrests had been made in connection with the ring, but the dogs were being cared for. 

The Source: This article includes information from the South Carolina attorney general’s office and previous FOX Local reporting.

Crime and Public SafetySouth Carolina