9 arrested in Utah and Salt Lake counties for suspected ties in massive drug ring bus

9 arrested in Utah and Salt Lake counties for suspected ties in massive drug ring bust

5 hours ago • Kurt Hanson Daily Herald

Several individuals were arrested Tuesday morning in various parts of Utah and Salt Lake counties on suspicion of operating a heroin trafficking ring throughout Utah County.

Police reports state several search warrants were served throughout Utah and Salt Lake counties, resulting in nine individuals being arrested at their residences. It was the end result of a phone intercept operation that began Sept. 18, reports state.

During the investigation, police reportedly intercepted calls between the following individuals: Efrain Zavala, Mario Perez, Teodoro Perez-Alvarado, Enrique Bahgna-Ledezma, Jorge Perez, Velizar Petrov, Noe Suarez, Ancelmo Cardenas and Vanessa Soriano.

Reports state Jorge Perez, 33, was the primary supplier of cocaine to the organization.

Reports indicate Mario Perez, 25, obtained heroin from Perez-Alvarado, 29, Zavala, 36, and Bahgna-Ledezma, 36. Mario Perez then supplied narcotics to Petrov, 29, who then met with buyers to sell the drugs, reports state.

Cardenas, 27, also met with Perez-Alvarado and Mario Perez to break narcotics down into smaller portions for sale.

Once the portions were broken down, Soriano, 23, also supplied Petrov with drugs throughout the day to give to buyers.

More than $65,000 was found in the arrestees’ residences, all related to drug trafficking income.

Baghna-Ledezma reported to police he was in charge of cutting heroin into small quantities and then giving it to Zavala to sell to buyers. Police reports state he also made several wire transfers to Mexico to pay for heroin.

Perez-Alvarado was booked on suspicion of one first-degree felony charge of engaging in a criminal enterprise, one first-degree felony charge of patterns of unlawful activity, one second-degree felony charge of money laundering and one second-degree felony charge of distributing a controlled substance. He said he planned to fly home to Mexico soon and is considered a flight risk, reports state.

Soriano was booked on suspicion of the same charges as Perez-Alvarado, as was Cardenas and Zavala, though Zavala was placed on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold.

Suarez, 18, was also booked on suspicion of nearly identical charges as Soriano, though he faces one additional second-degree charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Baghna-Ledezma was also booked on suspicion of similar charges, though he also faces one class B misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also placed on hold with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Petrov was booked on suspicion of similar charges, though he also faces one class B misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance for having marijuana in his car.

Mario Perez is facing identical charges with the other arrestees, though he is also suspected of another second-degree felony charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Jorge Perez is suspected of the same charges as the other arrestees, though he was also placed on and Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold.

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