Charleston Man Charged with Fentanyl Trafficking After Patrol Encounter

Police found several grams of the drug on the suspect during a search in a known narcotics area.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:09pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a small plastic bag containing a brown powdery substance, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the investigation of a fentanyl trafficking case.A recent narcotics bust in North Charleston underscores the ongoing battle against the deadly fentanyl crisis.Charleston Today

A 31-year-old Charleston man named Erick Jhonta Boyd was arrested and charged with trafficking fentanyl after North Charleston police found several grams of the drug on him during a patrol in an area known for narcotics activity.

Why it matters

Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid that has fueled the nationwide overdose crisis, and law enforcement efforts to interdict the drug at the street level are a key part of addressing the public health emergency.

The details

Officers were patrolling near 2599 La Quinta Lane on Thursday afternoon when they noticed Boyd and another person sitting behind a closed business near a dumpster enclosure, a location known to police as a frequent site for narcotics use and distribution. During a search, officers found a plastic bag containing approximately six grams of a brown powdery substance inside Boyd's right jacket pocket that field-tested positive for fentanyl.

  • On April 3, 2026, North Charleston police arrested Erick Jhonta Boyd.

The players

Erick Jhonta Boyd

A 31-year-old Charleston resident who was arrested and charged with trafficking fentanyl.

North Charleston Police

The law enforcement agency that arrested Boyd and charged him with the fentanyl trafficking offense.

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What they’re saying

“Officers were patrolling near 2599 La Quinta Lane at about 4 p.m. when they noticed Boyd and another person sitting behind a closed business near a dumpster enclosure, police said. The location is known to officers as a frequent site for narcotics use and distribution because it is concealed from public view.”

— North Charleston Police

What’s next

Boyd was transported to the Al Cannon Detention Center and charged with trafficking fentanyl. The case will now proceed through the criminal justice system.

The takeaway

This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the fentanyl crisis in South Carolina communities, as they work to interdict the highly potent synthetic opioid that has fueled the nationwide overdose epidemic.