FLORENCE COUNTY, South Carolina — Florence County Sheriff’s Office, through its Violent Crime Task Force, reported significant enforcement results for March 2025, targeting high-crime areas alongside the Florence Police Department. The task force seized 388.12 grams of marijuana, 10.4 grams of cocaine, 39.7 grams of methamphetamine, 7 grams of crack cocaine, 32.5 dose units of controlled substances, 19 guns, and $7,367 in U.S. currency, while arresting 14 fugitives and making 47 criminal cases.
The cases included charges like violent felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen pistol, unlawful carry of a weapon, trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, trafficking methamphetamine, and grand larceny, among others. Sheriff TJ Joye emphasized the task force’s focus on high-visibility traffic enforcement in Florence County’s most troubled areas, stating their goal is to remove drugs, guns, and criminals to improve residents’ quality of life. Florence County, with a population of about 137,000, has long grappled with crime—FBI data shows a violent crime rate of 5.8 per 1,000 residents in 2023, higher than the national average of 3.7.
While the task force’s efforts are commendable, the volume of seizures raises questions about the root causes of crime in the area. Economic challenges, with a median household income of $52,000 compared to the national $74,000 (U.S. Census, 2023), may drive some to the drug trade, and the 19 guns seized highlight the pervasive issue of illegal firearms. The task force’s approach, while effective in the short term, might benefit from complementary social programs to address these systemic issues, a perspective often debated on platforms like X where users call for more holistic solutions.
