Table of Contents

Drug Bust Near Parris Island Reveals Bigger Questions About Coastal Trafficking Routes, Tow Truck Tactics, and Murdaugh Ties

By James Seidel | CC News Network

PORT ROYAL, S.C. — Drug Bust Near Parris Island – A routine traffic stop near Parris Island on the night of April 8, 2025, led to the arrest of two men and the discovery of a significant quantity of illicit drugs. But the incident also renews broader concerns about how narcotics may be quietly moving through South Carolina’s Lowcountry—possibly using hidden routes and unassuming vehicles to bypass law enforcement.

At approximately 9:43 p.m., Port Royal Police officers patrolling near 860 Parris Island Gateway observed a vehicle with an obscured and expired temporary tag. Officers initiated a traffic stop. As the vehicle came to a halt, one of the passengers exited and fled on foot, carrying a small duffel bag.

Police pursued and quickly apprehended the suspect, a 33-year-old man from Yemassee. A search of his belongings revealed a troubling cache:

190 fentanyl pills
21.5 grams of marijuana
24.6 grams of cocaine
6.8 grams of fentanyl powder
33 additional blue M30 fentanyl pills
28.5 grams of methamphetamine

The suspect was arrested and booked into the Beaufort County Detention Center.

The driver, a 58-year-old man from the Beaufort area, was also found in possession of cocaine and methamphetamine. He too was arrested and transported to the detention center. A third passenger remained in the vehicle and was detained but not charged at the time of the report.

Drug Bust Near Parris Island: Tow Trucks and Hidden Cargo: A Known Tactic

In light of the growing number of arrests and drug seizures in the Lowcountry, former tow truck driver Jerry Rivers, who was previously linked to Alex Murdaugh, told CC News Network that tow trucks are often used to move drugs in plain sight. According to Rivers, vehicles being towed often have compartments or hidden spaces filled with narcotics—unnoticed by the tow operators themselves.

“You can haul a car from one end of the state to the other,” Rivers said. “And unless you’re in on it, you’d never know what’s in that trunk.”

Rivers is also believed to have supplied drugs to Curtis “Eddie” Smith, the alleged Murdaugh accomplice implicated in various schemes, including drug trafficking.

Key Legal Concept: Constructive Possession

South Carolina law requires both knowledge and control for someone to be charged with drug possession under the concept of constructive possession.

Constructive possession means the person knew the drugs were there and had the ability to control them.
Simply towing a car — without knowing what’s inside — does not meet this standard.

️ Good Faith Defense for Tow Truck Drivers

Tow truck operators can usually defend themselves by showing they were:

Acting in good faith
Performing a standard job function
Unaware of any illegal contents

Unless law enforcement can prove that the tow truck driver had knowledge of or helped conceal the drugs, they are not responsible.

Drug Bust Near Parris Island: Murdaugh Island and the Coastal Trafficking Concern

Authorities have expressed concern that coastal properties in remote parts of Beaufort County, including areas tied to the Murdaugh family, could be exploited as offloading zones for narcotics shipments arriving by water.

One such property—dubbed “Murdaugh Island” by locals—sits along the Harbor River, not far from Seaside Road and Highway 21. Law enforcement sources suggest that its secluded location, lack of surveillance, and direct access to I-95 make it a potential staging ground for moving drugs inland before disappearing into interstate traffic.

“If drugs can be offloaded there,” one investigator noted, “they can be on the interstate within minutes. And from there, they’re gone.”

Drug Bust Near Parris Island: Are Tow Truck Drivers Liable?

Legally, South Carolina does not hold tow truck drivers responsible for drugs discovered inside towed vehicles unless they had knowledge or control over the contents. This falls under the state’s constructive possession doctrine—which requires both awareness and the ability to exercise control over the contraband.

Drivers acting in good faith are generally protected, though investigators continue to monitor towing activity in regions like Seaside Road, where drug-related violence has surged in recent years.

What’s Next?

Local law enforcement, supported by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), continues to pursue leads tied to both street-level distribution and regional trafficking. Meanwhile, families impacted by drug-related violence in the Lowcountry still await justice.

Call to Action

Anyone with information related to ongoing investigations or trafficking activity in Beaufort County is urged to contact local law enforcement or submit anonymous tips through Crime Stoppers.

“The families of the victims deserve closure,” said one officer. “And uncovering the networks behind this violence can make a difference across the entire state.”

For ongoing coverage of crime, corruption, and the unraveling Murdaugh legacy, follow James Seidel and Crime and Cask News Network at www.ccnewsnetwork.com or email tips to jim@ccnewsnetwork.com.