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The Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) released the names of two suspected drug mules caught in the largest marijuana bust this year.
This task force seized nearly 300 pounds of marijuana in three days by stopping people on traffic violations on I-80 this weekend.
Alan Chattero was the oldest driver arrested this weekend at 63. Troopers say he was carrying 105 pounds of marijuana from northern California to an unknown location.
Jakob Welch, 25, was one of the youngest suspects in the operation, and troopers say this wasn't Welch's first time. But, apparently his nerves got the best of him.
Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Chris Simmons said, "Just a simple question of why is your luggage in your back seat versus in this big trunk. You rented a very large 4-door sedan, and his first answer was there's nothing in the trunk, I haven't been in the trunk."
Simmons pulled Welch over for speeding and ended up finding 11 pounds of pot in the trunk.
Both Chattero and Welch will be charged with drug possession with intent to distribute.
Simmons says no one arrested will give away who they're working for. "Their life would be in grave danger if they did," Simmons said. "And I don't blame them for that part. It's easier for them to take their arrest and move on with their time."
And that time could be just days in jail along with a fine. Simmons says at $2,000 or more per trip, these so-called mules will keep coming back for more.
UHP says these two men do have criminal histories, mostly involving narcotics. Over the weekend, more than a million dollars worth of marijuana was seized.
E-mail: ngonzales @ksl.com
