A major international drug trafficking operation running out of a Myrtle Beach apartment has been dismantled, landing four Mexican nationals in federal prison for distributing kilograms of fentanyl and heroin.
Federico Parra Lopez, 32, was sentenced to 130 months in federal prison for his role as the operation’s manager. His sentence includes a mandatory five-year term for possessing a firearm to protect the drug stash. His co-defendants, Marcos Flores Aquino, 25, and Miguel Angulo Perez, 22, each received 46 months in prison, while Omar Sanchez Aquino, 33, was sentenced to 37 months.
All four men, who were in the United States illegally, face automatic deportation to Mexico once they complete their prison terms. Because these are federal sentences, none of the men are eligible for parole.
According to federal prosecutors, the ring originated in Mexico and operated throughout the Myrtle Beach area between 2023 and 2024. Parra Lopez was sent to South Carolina to oversee the local hub, managing a stash house where large bulk quantities of fentanyl and heroin were delivered.
The other three men functioned as couriers under Parra Lopez’s direction, responsible for breaking down the bulk shipments, repackaging the drugs, making street-level deliveries, and funneling the cash proceeds back to Mexico.
The illicit network was brought down following a coordinated multi-agency investigation that culminated in a federal indictment in October 2024. The investigation was spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration, working alongside the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Myrtle Beach Police Department, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, and the Horry County Police Department.
Federal officials noted that the prosecution is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a nationwide Department of Justice initiative designed to target cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and immigration-linked crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian handled the prosecution for the District of South Carolina.
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