LOCAL NEWS

80K fentanyl pills seized in Utah drug bust

Feb 11, 2023, 12:27 PM | Updated: 12:28 pm
A pair of drug busts in Summit and Wasatch counties on Thursday resulted in the seizure of meth, he...
A pair of drug busts in Summit and Wasatch counties on Thursday resulted in the seizure of meth, heroin, marijuana and approximately 19 pounds of fentanyl pills. (StanislauV, Shutterstock)
(StanislauV, Shutterstock)

COALVILLE, Utah — A pair of drug busts in Summit and Wasatch counties on Thursday led to the discovery of meth, heroin, marijuana and tens of thousands of fentanyl pills.

In Summit County, about 12:20 p.m., a car was pulled over on I-80 near Coalville because the tint on the windows was too dark, according to a police booking affidavit.

“I could not see the driver of the vehicle as it passed my location,” the arresting trooper wrote in the affidavit.

A Utah Highway Patrol trooper could smell burnt marijuana when he approached the vehicle and the driver rolled down the window. When the trooper told the driver that he would be searching her car, “The driver refused to exit the vehicle and began texting on her phone. She was removed from the vehicle with minimal force,” the affidavit states.

During a search of the car, 19 pounds of fentanyl pills — approximately 80,000 pills — and 3 pounds of heroin were found, according to the affidavit. Drug paraphernalia, a loaded gun, about $3,000 cash, and a small amount of marijuana were also found, the affidavit states.

Ruth Mery Argueta, 31, was booked into the Summit County Jail for investigation of two counts of drug possession with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a firearm by a restricted person, obstructing justice, marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and a window tint violation.

The affidavit states the U.S. attorney for Utah will screen the case for potential federal charges.

Also on Thursday, in a separate case, a Heber City police officer pulled over a vehicle for a headlight violation. The driver provided the officer with a Mexican ID card but did not have a Utah driver’s license, according to a police booking affidavit. The driver was asked to perform field sobriety tests.

The driver passed the test. But while doing so, the officer “noticed that he had a hat on that said Joaquin Guzman and the number 701, with a Colombian flag, Mexico flag and the American flag. I recognized the name Joaquin Guzman because he is El Chapo the Mexican drug lord and the 701 is the number ranking that El Chapo held as the 701st Forbes richest person in the world,” the affidavit states.

The officer asked for the driver’s permission to search his vehicle. After getting consent, police searched the car and found small amounts of meth and marijuana, the affidavit states. Jaime Antonio Castro Miranda, 24, was arrested and taken to the Wasatch County Jail. Before being formally booked into jail, Miranda was asked if he had any more drugs on him, to which he claimed he did not, according to the affidavit.

At the jail, however, a baggie of meth was found in his sock as he was being checked into the facility, the affidavit states. Later, two additional baggies were found by jail personnel while searching Miranda.

He was arrested for investigation of drug possession with intent to distribute, taking drugs into a correctional facility, drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, marijuana possession and not having a driver’s license.

KSL 5 TV Live

Top Stories

Local News

Police respond to Spanish Fork High School after receiving reports of an active shooter, which were...
Josh Ellis

Police: Hoax targets several Utah schools with fake shooting threats

First responders were sent to multiple Utah high schools Wednesday due to calls reporting an active shooter, but police have confirmed none of the threats were credible and no students were in danger.
11 hours ago
(Salt Lake City Police Department)...
Madison Swenson

Gas leak closes roads in Salt Lake City; authorities investigating

A gas leak has some roads closed in Salt Lake City Wednesday morning.
11 hours ago
A sign indicating the Seven Canyons Fountain's water has been turned off stands in front of the fou...
Carter Williams

Seven Canyons Fountain at Liberty Park to become a ‘dry’ art feature

The seven creeks that flow through the Salt Lake Valley are thriving as a result of a record-setting winter within the snowpack basin that fuels all seven of the creeks.
11 hours ago
Gwyneth Paltrow enters the courtroom for her trial, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Park City, Utah. Pa...
Sam Metz

Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski collision trial continues with defense

Gwyneth Paltrow’s attorneys are continuing to mount their defense about her 2016 ski collision with a 76-year-old retired optometrist who sued her years later.
11 hours ago
emergency lights...
Cassidy Wixom

2 inmates hospitalized after brawl breaks out at Utah State Prison

Two inmates are hospitalized after a fight broke out at the Utah State Correctional Facility in Salt Lake City Tuesday night.
11 hours ago
Kevin Linford (Facebook)...
Andrew Adams

Additional sex charges filed against Utah businessman; prosecutors fear more victims possible

A man accused of sexually abusing multiple women at a party in Davis County last summer now faces new charges in Salt Lake County. 
1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

Stack of old laptops with dark background...
PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.
Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...
BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.
Close up of an offset printing machine during production...
Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.
vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...
Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.
Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...
Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.
notebook with password notes highlighted...
PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.
80K fentanyl pills seized in Utah drug bust