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ST. GEORGE — A tip and a routine traffic stop recently resulted in a very large drug bust in southern Utah.
Jazmin Tentory-Ortega, 27, was charged Monday in 5th District Court with drug possession with intent to distribute, a second-degree felony, and four traffic infractions.
On Friday, St. George police received a tip of a vehicle about to pass through the area "transporting a significant amount of narcotics," according to a police booking affidavit. Officers set up along I-15 near the state line and later spotted the vehicle with a Texas license plate.
The driver quickly slowed her car upon seeing the officers, who then followed her. Officers pulled her over after they said they observed several traffic violations. A police K-9 was used to sniff around the vehicle and it indicated the possible presence of drugs inside her car, the affidavit alleges.
Investigators reported finding a duffle bag with 10 plastic wrapped packages inside. Approximately 108,000 fentanyl pills weighing 24 pounds, with an estimated street value of $1.6 million, were seized from the plastic bags, according to the affidavit.
Tentory-Ortega told officers she was traveling from California to Denver and initially claimed she thought she was transporting Botox, but later admitted she believed it was likely drugs or cash, the affidavit says.
Tentory-Ortega's initial appearance in court is scheduled for Thursday.
