A Hampton County woman has been arrested and charged with trafficking in Marijuana and retained in the Bamberg County jail. According to information obtained from the Bamberg County’s Sheriff’s Office, Elizabeth M. Dinkins of Brunson was charged with trafficking marijuana, more than 10 lbs. but less than 100 lbs. Dinkins was subsequently taken before Bamberg County Chief Magistrate Craig Threatt and was released on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond.

According to Bamberg County Sheriff Ed Darnell, “On November 3, we received information through the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) that a package was in route to the Bamberg Post Office.” The package was then delivered by normal delivery by the mail carrier. The package was not opened until after it had been received by the defendant.

Darnell said the November 3, drug bust of 18 lbs. of marijuana was valued at $30,000, and was contained in nine metal cans, shrunk wrapped in plastic. Sheriff Darnell noted the containers containing a green leafy substance came from California and was bound for a distribution location in another county. The drug bust he noted was a collaborative effort between the Bamberg County Sheriff’s Office, working in conjunction with the DEA, USPS, Bamberg Police Department and the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Darnell said that even though the drugs were sealed in tin cans the Orangeburg Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit “made a big hit” on the package. The package, identified as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance was then delivered to the RAI Dialysis Center at 2046 Main Highway in the city of Bamberg and was signed for by an employee. The employee was then escorted out the back door of the business to the Bamberg County Sheriff's office.

Sheriff Darnell said the investigation into the case is continuing and a warrant for another arrest has been signed. Darnell said the investigation into the case will go back to California and will be handled by the Drug Information Task Force.