Drug dealers arrested by WVC and SLC police in two separate investigations
Jun 20, 2024, 10:19 AM
Salt Lake City Police seized more than $700 in cash, nearly 750 fentanyl pills, drug paraphernalia and several cell phones as part of a drug investigation in downtown. (SLCPD photo – June 18, 2024).
(SLCPD photo – June 18, 2024)
SALT LAKE CITY — Officials with the West Valley City Police Department and the Salt Lake City Police Department have arrested two suspected drug dealers after investigating the two suspects in separate investigations.
West Valley City Police
The WVCP investigation began in November 2023, when police started following a drug trafficking organization.
Police said they searched a storage shed in West Valley and found over 6,700 fentanyl pills, along with methamphetamine and heroin.
Earlier, police obtained a search warrant for the home of a suspected drug dealer, 35-year-old Leonilde Andrea Lopez Vargas.
It was in that house where police said they found 28,000 fentanyl pills, more methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine.
According to police, there were also three small children in the home.
Salt Lake City Police
The SLCPD investigation began on June 18, 2024, after police said they received information about a drug problem at 120 South 300 East.
Police said in a press release that they “could smell burning synthetic drugs coming from a specific apartment unit.”
From there, police knocked on the door of the suspect’s apartment. They said they could hear people inside the apartment, but no one answered the door.
That’s when the apartment’s tenant, 54-year-old Joshua Seidman, came home and opened the door for police.
“The officers saw several people inside the apartment unit, saw drugs and drug paraphernalia, and the smell of burning drugs got even stronger once Seidman opened the door,” the press release said.
Police said they secured the apartment and were able to search the unit with a search warrant.
During the search, police said they found nearly 450 fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, heroin and spice. Along with those drugs, police said they also found $700 in cash and several cell phones.
“As a police department, we are taking a proactive and strategic approach of addressing drug trafficking,” SLCPD Chief Mike Brown said in the press release.
“With each drug arrest we make, we are disrupting the flow of drugs in our city. Our officers are doing incredible work addressing crime in our city. They deserve recognition for their work on this case and the dedicated community service they provide each day,” Brown continued.
Police said Seidman was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.
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