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MONTICELLO — A car pulled over for speeding in southern Utah resulted in a large drug bust on Monday.
A San Juan County sheriff's deputy pulled over a vehicle at 575 N. Main in Monticello for going 45 mph in a 30 mph zone.
"While speaking with the driver … she told me there was a 'joint' in one of the doors in the vehicle. I asked if her or any of the passengers had a medical marijuana card and she stated they did not. I advised her I was going to search the vehicle because marijuana is illegal in the state of Utah," according to a police booking affidavit.
While searching the vehicle, a vacuum-sealed package later determined to be methamphetamine was found on the floor behind the second passenger seat, the affidavit states.
Deputies said "five more packages were located in the void where the spare tire was. In total there was 30.4 pounds" of meth.
Jose Patzan-Patzan, 34, Angel Lopez-Estrada, 28, and Natalie Aracelie Alcantar, 25, were each arrested for investigation of drug possession with intent to distribute.
The affidavit notes that agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration were scheduled to visit Monticello to assist in the investigation.
