South Dakota law enforcement seized the largest quantity of methamphetamine in the state’s history after arresting an illegal alien who was allegedly transporting roughly $12 million worth of the drug.
Republican Governor Larry Rhoden announced the bust on Monday.
Rhoden credited it to “Operation: Prairie Thunder,” a statewide crackdown launched in late July.
The operation targets drug trafficking, gang activity, parole violators, and other threats to public safety.
The 42-year-old foreign national, whose identity and nationality have not been disclosed, was stopped by the South Dakota Highway Patrol during a traffic stop.
A service dog alerted officers to possible narcotics, prompting a search of the vehicle.
Authorities say they discovered 207 pounds of crystal meth before arresting the suspect.
He was charged with two felonies and a misdemeanor related to manufacturing, possession, and distribution of narcotics, along with drug paraphernalia.
“We are taking action to protect the people of South Dakota from criminals and drug traffickers,” Rhoden said in a statement.
“Our Highway Patrol showed incredible professionalism in achieving this record drug bust.
“I promised that my administration would keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free – and we will continue to deliver on that promise through Operation: Prairie Thunder.”
A key component of the operation is coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The coordination with ICE is a sharp contrast to “sanctuary” city policies embraced by many Democrat-led cities.
Rhoden has made clear that the initiative will prioritize identifying, arresting, and removing illegal aliens engaged in criminal activity.
“Our work alongside ICE boils down to this: Highway Patrol will support ICE with arrests,” Rhoden said when launching the program.
“The National Guard will support ICE with processing and administrative functions.
“And [the Department of Corrections] will support ICE with transportation, identifying illegal immigrants in our prisons, and getting them paroled to ICE custody.”
According to the governor’s office, the suspect is now in immigration proceedings.
The record drug bust comes as President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency at the northern border and continues reinforcing the southern border wall as part of his broader strategy to crack down on narcotics trafficking and dismantle sanctuary city protections for criminal illegal aliens.
While states like South Dakota work in partnership with federal authorities, sanctuary jurisdictions are facing mounting legal challenges.
The Justice Department recently sued New York City, arguing its sanctuary policies “impair federal detention of removable aliens, including dangerous criminals, contrary to federal law.”
Similar lawsuits have been filed against Los Angeles and Chicago under the Trump administration.
Supporters say South Dakota’s cooperation with ICE and its record-breaking drug seizure demonstrate exactly why strong border enforcement and local-federal coordination are critical to keeping dangerous drugs and criminals off America’s streets.
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