Salt Lake County Drug Busts: 3 Suspects Caught with Fentanyl

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TAYLORSVILLE, UT – Law enforcement officials arrested three individuals suspected of operating a large-scale fentanyl distribution network in the Salt Lake Valley, seizing nearly 60,000 pills in two separate busts on Thursday.

Monthslong Investigation Leads to Arrests

Following an extensive State Bureau of Investigation probe, authorities pulled over a vehicle that had just left a storage unit in Salt Lake County. During the stop, a K-9 unit alerted officers to potential contraband, leading to a search of the vehicle.

Inside, police found over $34,000 in cash, wrapped in rubber bands and stored in various containers. This discovery prompted search warrants for two storage units, where agents uncovered approximately 10 pounds of fentanyl pills—totaling over 45,000 pills.

Weapons and Drug Money Found

Alongside the drugs, investigators found a loaded handgun in a closet near a large stash of fentanyl pills. Authorities arrested two individuals on-site:

  • Naaman Navarro-Hernandez, 34
  • Helen Paulina Coello Turcios, 20

A third suspect, Jeren Navarro, 27, was arrested in a separate operation after detectives with the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force executed a search warrant at his Taylorsville residence. Officers stopped him as he was leaving the home, finding 2,500 fentanyl pills inside his vehicle’s center console, divided into 100-pill baggies, indicating intent to distribute.

A search of his bedroom revealed an additional 11,000 fentanyl pills, as well as $7,821 in cash hidden throughout the residence.

Suspects Linked to Broader Drug Network

According to law enforcement, Navarro-Hernandez frequently coordinated drug sales with his brother, whose name was not disclosed. When officers searched his brother’s vehicle and property, they seized:

  • 40,000 fentanyl pills
  • Approximately $50,000 in cash

Authorities also found records showing that Navarro-Hernandez frequently wired money to Honduras, raising concerns about the broader financial operations of the drug network.

Charges and Legal Status

All three suspects were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on charges of drug possession with intent to distribute. Additionally, Navarro faces money laundering charges and was found to be illegally in possession of a firearm.

Officials confirmed that all three individuals have ties to Honduras and are in the U.S. without legal documentation. Investigators are now working to determine the full scope of the trafficking operation.

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