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Riverside man arrested for trafficking heroin and meth

Published On: 03-07-2018 in Category: drug bust

Law enforcement officers in Washington County, Utah, have seized a huge quantity of drugs — nearly 25 pounds of methamphetamine and 4 pounds of heroin worth over $2 million on the street during a traffic stop. According to media reports, authorities got suspicious when driver Arturo De Paz from California’s Riverside failed to provide any insurance or registration documents for the vehicle.

The drug bust was made on Feb. 4, 2018, on northbound Interstate 15 near milepost 1 when a Utah Highway Patrol officer pulled over a car for an illegal window tint. Upon interrogating the driver and the other passenger, officers found discrepancies in their versions of the story regarding their travel plans. A subsequent search of their vehicle led to the discovery of 28 bundles of suspected drugs hidden in the car. After weighing and testing the bundles, authorities confirmed them to be heroin and meth.

De Paz admitted that drug bundles belonged to him and that the other passenger wasn’t aware of the drugs. De Paz also told authorities that he had hidden more meth in his sock. He was later taken into custody and moved to the Washington County Purgatory Correctional Facility. In addition to a warning for the window tint, he also faces charges of drug possession and intent to distribute, including possession of drug paraphernalia. De Paz’s bail has been set at $10,000. According to the Washington County Attorney’s Office, the incident could soon become a federal case.

Drug trafficking is a serious problem in US

In recent years, the huge volume of traffic plying through various checkpoints along the southwest border provides sufficient opportunities to Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) to transport methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, cocaine, and other controlled substances to stash houses in Californian cities. Further, from these transit stash houses, the drugs are transported to other U.S. cities for use and to drug markets in the north and west through an intricate network of narcotic dealers.

According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the DTOs dominate the illegal drug market nationwide, which is estimated to make phenomenal profits of over $300 billion each year, a huge chunk of which is siphoned off to Mexico. These drug cartels partner with members of small, unaffiliated gangs in different neighborhoods and cities to lay their hands on new distribution territories. In recent years, gang involvement in the drug market has led to a remarkable surge in the number of homicides with members fighting over profit sharing and market monopoly.

Combating addiction menace

Addiction to any substance is dangerous and requires immediate medical intervention. The U.S. government has spared no efforts in nabbing drug traffickers and is educating citizens about the misuse of drugs. But these efforts will materialize only when people also pledge to eliminate the menace at their level.

If you or your loved one is battling addiction to heroin, meth or any other substance, seek treatment immediately. The Riverside Drug Treatment and Rehab Center can help you get one of the best addiction treatment programs and embrace sobriety. You may call at our 24/7 helpline number 951-221-4018 for more information on different treatment options in your vicinity.