Leader of drug smuggling operation through Utah involving meth and heroin arrested, police say

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah (KUTV) – A suspected leader of a drug trafficking organization was arrested after police found him and two other people with meth, heroin and a converted compartment in his car where he hid the drugs, Davis County Task Force officials said.

Rubdiel Camarillo Valdez, 28, was arrested on two counts of distributing/offering/distributing a controlled substance, both second-degree felonies; and altering the vehicle compartment for contraband, a Class A misdemeanor.

In August, an officer with the Davis County Task Force initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization based primarily in Salt Lake County, the affidavit said.

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Several controlled buy operations were conducted during which individuals reportedly purchased redistributable quantities of methamphetamine and heroin.

During these controlled buys, officers said they saw Valdez driving through neighborhoods where drug transactions were taking place.

Officers believed Valdez was conducting countersurveillance to detect or deter law enforcement activity, the affidavit said.

They also reportedly saw Valdez return to the same apartment immediately after the inspected purchases.

Officers obtained a search warrant for Valdez's residence and several vehicles he was driving that were linked to the drug trafficking organization.

During the week of Sept. 22, officers saw one of Valdez's vehicles leave Utah and enter Arizona, a state known to be a drug source, the affidavit said.

On September 29, the same vehicle was seen traveling eastbound on I-80 in Nevada toward Utah. A second vehicle, also associated with the drug trafficking organization, followed closely behind, the affidavit states.

Officers believed illegal controlled substances were being transported back to Utah and stopped both vehicles in Salt Lake County.

Valdez was driving one of the vehicles, a Ford Taurus, the affidavit said. In the other vehicle, a Chevrolet Malibu, officers found approximately 9,239 grams of methamphetamine and 2,508 grams of heroin.

The Malibu also had an aftermarket compartment containing narcotics that officers believed was manufactured to transport narcotics.

The two occupants of the Malibu reportedly consented to having their phones searched. Officers said they saw messages from Valdez instructing the two to collect narcotics out of state and drive them back to Utah.

In addition, officers found messages from Valdez in which he directed the two to sell narcotics to customers, the affidavit said.

Although Valdez did not directly possess the narcotics, he directed the transportation and distribution of “significant quantities,” the affidavit states. He also acted as a lookout for the police.

Valdez was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on Sunday.

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