Cocaine, marijuana, guns seized in North Charleston

Cocaine, marijuana and guns were seized Thursday by North Charleston police and four suspects were arrested on drug charges as part of “Operation Dirty Laundry.”

The effort on Ashley Shores Drive, South Casaway Lane and Scarpa Street was launched in response to complaints about drug trafficking in the area, police said.

Antonio J. Hamilton Jr. of 2845 Ashley Shores Drive was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute marijuana within a half-mile of a school. He is also charged with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Eric Carter, Rayshard McClaru and Ridonte Calvary, all of Scarpa Street, were arrested for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Calvary also was charged with trafficking cocaine, trafficking cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute marijuana from a previous search warrant at his residence in May, police said.

On Thursday, police searched a residence at 2845 Ashley Shores Drive and found 40 grams of marijuana along with items used to weigh and distribute illegal drugs. A Bersa Thunder .380 caliber handgun with the serial number filed off was also found.

Another residence at 3813 Scarpa St. was also searched. There, nine grams of cocaine, nine grams of cocaine base and 217 grams of marijuana, along with items used to weigh and distribute illegal drugs, were found.

Several other vacant residences were searched. At 3804 Ashley Shores Drive, police found an Intratec AB-10 “Tech 9” with a magazine that contained 13 9-mm rounds. At 3814 Ashley Shores Drive, 305 grams of marijuana and 3.3 grams of cocaine was seized. A search of 2864 S. Casaway Lane turned up eight grams of marijuana and a digital scale.

In the vacant residences, drugs and items seized were in the exterior attached laundry room.

The Narcotics Unit, Intelligence Lead Policing Team, S.P.E.E.D. Team, Gang Intervention Team and detectives participated in the effort, dubbed operation “Dirty Laundry.”