Florence, South Carolina – A routine patrol on Interstate 95 turned into a major drug trafficking arrest in Florence County after deputies said a speeding stop led to the discovery of a large quantity of fentanyl.
According to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, the traffic stop happened on May 7, 2026, near the 164-mile marker on I-95, according to information from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies assigned to the agency’s Criminal Enforcement Unit were patrolling the interstate when they stopped a vehicle for speeding.
What began as a traffic violation quickly moved into a narcotics investigation. During the stop, a deputy obtained a positive K-9 alert for the odor of drugs coming from the vehicle. Deputies then searched the vehicle and reported finding two kilos of fentanyl.
Authorities said the amount seized equals about 4.4 pounds. Investigators estimated the street value of the fentanyl at $250,000. Officials also said the seizure was large enough to kill more than 1,000,000 people, underscoring the danger tied to the drug and the scale of the case.
Melissa Sueellen Blair Dantzler was arrested after the search and charged with trafficking in fentanyl. She was taken to the Florence County Detention Center, where officials said she is being held without bond.
The charge carries severe penalties under South Carolina law. For trafficking in fentanyl involving this amount, the mandatory punishment is imprisonment for no less than 25 years and no more than 40 years. The law also states that no part of the sentence may be suspended, probation may not be granted, and the charge carries a $200,000 fine.
The arrest adds to the ongoing work of Florence County deputies assigned to criminal enforcement patrols along major travel routes such as Interstate 95, where traffic stops can sometimes lead to larger investigations.
Dantzler remains in custody at the Florence County Detention Center as the case moves forward. More information from the Florence County Sheriff’s Office can be found through its official website: https://www.fcso.org/
