ST. GEORGE, UTAH (KUTV) — Roughly 24 pounds of fentanyl were seized and a drug trafficker arrested after a traffic stop in Utah in early May, according to authorities.
KUTV obtained body camera video showing the arrest and seizure of an estimated 108,000 counterfeit oxycodone pills (with fentanyl).
A probable cause affidavit details the incident on May 4, which started with an "anonymous tip through the St. George Dispatch center."
The tip advised that a white Nissan Quest was coming through the area in 2 to 3 hours," the officer wrote. "Approximately 3 hours after the tip, I observed a white Nissan Quest with Texas plates traveling northbound at the state line into Utah. Upon the driver observing Police vehicles, the vehicle slowed rapidly. I then entered the Interstate to follow the vehicle and upon doing so, the driver quickly activated the right turn signal and began to take the exit for the north bound port of entry. The vehicle then swerved back into the travel lane failing to signal upon doing so."As the initial officer approached the minivan, a second officer went to the passenger side and observed a sweater covering a duffle bag behind the front passenger seat.
The officer deployed K-9 Emma for a "free air sniff around the exterior of the vehicle," in which K-9 Emma returned a positive indication. The officer returned back to the car and located a duffle bag with packages inside.
The bags were heat sealed and there was a strong odor of gasoline coming from the bags," the officer said. "I eventually cut into several of the bags and noticed that they were filled with small round pills that were stamped with "M" on one side and "30" on the other."The suspected drug trafficker, Jazmin Tentory-Ortega, told police she picked up the drugs in California and intended to deliver them to Colorado. Officers estimated the drugs were worth roughly $1.7 million in street value.
“That’s a lot of drugs off the street. Unfortunately, with the fentanyl epidemic, or whatever you want to call it, this is kind of an average thing," said St. George Police Officer Tiffany Mitchell.
Acknowledging Interstate 15 as a major drug trafficking corridor, Mitchell encouraged anyone with information about suspected drug trafficking or activity to call local law enforcement.
“What we’re seeing is an increase in fentanyl with users we typically see them using heroin. Now, with fentanyl, it’s cheaper and easier to get, so we’re seeing an increase with that usage," said Mitchell.
Tentory-Ortega remained in Purgatory Correctional Facility in Hurricane, Utah.
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