ST. GEORGE — A couple was arrested after Washington County Sheriff’s deputies discovered approximately 6 pounds of methamphetamine wrapped in towels during a traffic stop on Interstate 15 last week.
Shortly before 11 p.m. on July 4, an officer stopped a vehicle on northbound I-15 just south of the Hurricane Exit for two headlight violations.
While speaking to the driver, Javive Carolina Diaz Este, 30, of Columbus, Ohio, the officer watched her throw a pink backpack onto the floor in front of the backseat, according to a police report filed in support of the arrest.
As the officer continued to gather information from the driver, another officer responded to the scene to assist and reportedly found suspected meth on the passenger who was identified as Ohio resident, Francisco Jesus Garfias Herrera, 29, from Grove City, a suburb of Columbus.
Meanwhile, deputies conducted a search of the vehicle, and on the passenger side floorboard, they reportedly found an open bag that contained approximately 1 pound of suspected meth.
And during a search of the rear compartment, deputies say they found a duffel bag containing five large bags of suspected meth, each wrapped in a towel.
They also recovered smaller containers of suspected meth and a small amount of marijuana, as well as pipes and other paraphernalia.
While speaking to police through a translator, Herrera reportedly said he and the driver had traveled to California where he was asked to “take a bag back to Ohio,” adding that they were currently returning home.
In reference to any payment, Herrera said he was not paid and only told to “take care of it” and was doing it “because there would be problems if he did not,” the report states.
Washington County Sheriff’s Sgt. Lucas Alfred told St. George News that roughly 6.5 pounds of suspected meth were recovered during the traffic stop.
The value of the narcotics is estimated to be worth nearly $12,000 at the wholesale level. According to the DEA, the street-level value can be as much as $170,000.
The two suspects were arrested and transported to Purgatory Correctional Facility facing second-degree felony possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Este faces an additional misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana.
Both are being held without bail.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings. Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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