A man was apprehended by law enforcement officials after a routine traffic stop near the Utah-Arizona border led to the discovery of thousands of suspected fentanyl pills on February 10. The arrest was made by an officer from the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), who found the illicit drugs concealed within a bag of candy.
Upon arriving at the scene, the officer also uncovered a “white powdery substance” believed to be methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia such as pipes commonly used for meth, inside a purse and sun visor. The driver, identified as Marcus Hanson, was subsequently taken into custody on charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled schedule 1 drug, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to the affidavit, the arresting officer was stationed in a marked patrol vehicle with headlights on in the median at the Utah-Arizona state line. As Hanson drove past, the occupants of the vehicle allegedly leaned back in an apparent attempt to avoid detection. When asked to present his driver’s license, Hanson claimed it was lost or stolen, prompting the officer to call for backup while Hanson retrieved his insurance documents.
During this time, a UHP K-9 officer and his dog conducted a search of the vehicle, which yielded a positive indication for narcotics. The subsequent search led to the discovery of a rubber package commonly used to hold THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana. However, instead of marijuana, the package contained several blue pills with an “M” imprint, suspected to be synthetic fentanyl.
Additional law enforcement agencies, including agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), were present at the scene. Further investigation revealed more suspected fentanyl pills hidden in a half-gallon bag concealed within the bag of candy. Additionally, several grams of powdered fentanyl were also seized.
