International gang member arrested during traffic stop in Berkeley County, deputies say

BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCBD) – A traffic stop in Moncks Corner led to the arrest of an international gang member.

A Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputy was patrolling Highway 52 and Highway 402 on Saturday when he observed a vehicle with a faulty tail light.

During a traffic stop, officers said there was an odor of marijuana coming from the window, and the driver, identified as Elmer Neftali Martínez-Escobar, 31, admitted to having marijuana in the interior of the vehicle.

The sheriff’s office said Martinez-Escobar was flagged during a National Crime Information Center (NCIC) records check as having ties to transnational organized crime. It also showed he was a fugitive from El Salvador wanted for homicide.

The database also lists him as a member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang, or MS-13, according to the sheriff’s office.

A clear plastic bag containing approximately eight grams of marijuana was found during a probable cause search of the vehicle. He was arrested and charged with simple possession of marijuana.

“The Department of Justice was contacted at the request of the FBI. The information was confirmed by their agency and in response, Martinez-Escobar was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” sheriff’s office officials said. “Martinez-Escobar has been confirmed as a wanted illegal alien and will be transferred into their custody.”

Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said the traffic stop was a “great example” of deputies using their training to identify criminal offenders. “We never know what a traffic stop will bring, but I hope our deputies continue to work hard to keep Berkeley County safe,” he said.

Martinez-Escobar is being held at the Hill-Finklea Detention Center.