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PARK CITY — More than 500 pounds of marijuana and smaller amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine were seized during an intensive operation by the Department of Public Safety targeting drug trafficking.
Between Sunday and Tuesday, 15 officers rotating shifts worked 48 straight hours to look for people transporting drugs along I-80. The majority of busts were made in Summit County, with additional seizures made near St. George and a couple in Salt Lake County, said Capt. Tyler Kotter with the State Bureau of Investigations.
Fifteen people were arrested for investigation of drug trafficking charges, and 509 pounds of high-grade marijuana, 15 pounds of cocaine, 2.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, 4 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, 95 ecstasy pills and $125,260 in cash were seized.
The harvest right now is going on in California, so right now is a busy time. Right now is kind of the peak time as far as the season goes.
–Captain Tyler Kotter
"One stop was 200 pounds, one was 100 pounds, and then smaller loads in between," Kotter said of the individual drug busts. "A couple of large loads for sure."
Some drugs were found in hidden compartments in vehicles, while others were more out in the open.
"The K-9s were used quite extensively. Drugs were hidden in certain areas. And some of them were almost were in plain view. You see all of it," he said.
None of the drugs seized were believed to be destined for Utah, Kotter said. All of the alleged drug traffickers were believed to be passing through the state on their way to the Midwest or Southern states.
Kotter said the majority of marijuana comes from northern California, and right now is when marijuana plants are picked, dried and traffickers ship their loads east.
"The harvest right now is going on in California, so right now is a busy time," he said. "Right now is kind of the peak time as far as the season goes."
