$1M in meth found after routine traffic stop in Coalville


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COALVILLE — A routine traffic stop led to a major methamphetamine bust Thursday.

A deputy pulled over a Chevrolet Impala on I-80 near Coalville for a lane travel violation about 3 p.m., said Summit County Sheriff Justin Martinez. He noticed things that raised his suspicions, and a drug-sniffing police K-9 was called to the scene. When the dog indicated there was something in the trunk, the deputies obtained a search warrant.

In the trunk, under the spare tire in a hidden compartment, investigators found 31.5 pounds of meth worth an estimated $1 million on the street, the sheriff said. He called it the largest meth bust ever in Summit County.

"I'm very proud of the job and the diligence the deputies demonstrated by taking a routine traffic stop and being diligent," Martinez said. "They investigated. They didn't just stop with where they were. They continued to look into it further and because of their dedication they uncovered that kind of methamphetamine."

Marilyn Padilla Torres, of Long Beach, California, was arrested. On Friday, a complaint was filed against her in federal court. Torres was a passenger in the vehicle and told investigators she was taking the drugs to Kansas City but the driver was unaware of the shipment, court records state.

Martinez said the meth was believed to have come from a "superlab" in Mexico.

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