PREVIOUSLY DEPORTED ILLEGAL ALIEN CAUGHT WITH $850K WORTH OF METH AND COCAINE IN UTAH

PROVO, UT (KUTV) – Utah County authorities arrested a man who is accused of trafficking illegal drugs worth over $850,000, a press release stated.

On January 12, detectives with the Utah County Special Enforcement Team and deputies with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a car for traffic violations.

Jose Olegario Lopez, 44, did not stop the car until law enforcement surrounded him.

During an initial search, detectives found a small amount of cocaine on Lopez’s person.

Officers and a K9 found a sealed box which contained several individually wrapped packages, a press release stated.

Detectives found 2.35 pounds of cocaine valued at about $106,000.

The remaining packages contained 16.7 pounds of methamphetamine, which has a street value of over $750,000.

Lopez’s 16-year-old son was in the car at the time of his arrest.

Detectives do not believe the son was involved in the drug trafficking and later released him to his mother, a press release stated.

Agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Lozpez is an illegal immigrant.

He also has eight aggravated reentry violations.

Lopez was booked into jail on two first-degree felony charges of...

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