Drug investigation concludes with arrest

Carter Weaver, Sheriff of Georgetown County, announced a four-month drug distribution investigation by Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office deputies and agents with the 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit has concluded with the arrest of a man near Andrews.

Agents had initiated an investigation into the distribution of heroin, in Georgetown County, by Maleek Zhaquan Johnson, 22, of Georgetown. As a result of that investigation agents obtained arrest warrants on Johnson for two counts of Distribution of Heroin. Agents, armed with the arrest warrants, located Johnson in the Andrews section of Georgetown County late in the afternoon of Monday, Sept. 1, 2020.

Johnson, who was in his truck, was meeting with other individuals when agents apprehended him. Inside Johnson’s truck agents found a loaded .38 caliber revolver, a significant quantity of heroin, marijuana packaged for sale as well as a large amount of U.S. currency, a digital scale and packaging materials.

The heroin confiscated would result in several hundred dosage units on the street and has a value of $8,000-$10,000.

Johnson was placed in the Georgetown County Detention Center on charges of:
• Distribution of Heroin, 2 counts
• Trafficking Heroin, 28 or more grams
• Possession of Marijuana with the intent to Distribute, 2nd offense
• Possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime

The 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit, is comprised of numerous agencies within the 15th Judicial Circuit. Contributing agencies include: Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office, 15th Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Coastal Carolina University DPS and the U.S. Army National Guard Counter Drug Task Force.