From the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office:
On March 24, 2025, around 2:45 p.m., a Deputy with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on eastbound Interstate 70 after observing a vehicle failing to maintain its lane. Upon contacting the driver and passenger, the Deputy discovered the vehicle had been rented in another state earlier in the day.
The Deputy gained consent from the driver to search the vehicle following inconsistent statements. During the search, the Deputy located six vacuum sealed packages concealed in the car. The contents of the packages were field tested, which showed a presumptive positive result for fentanyl.
In total, six kilograms of fentanyl powder were seized. The street value of the illegal drug is approximately $750,000.
The driver has been identified as Lucina Lopez, a 26-year-old resident of Apple Valley, California. Lopez is being held at the Mesa County Detention Facility on the following charges:
- Dist/Man/Possession w/Intent >225G Schedule I/II OR >112G Meth, Heroin, Katamine, Cathinone OR > 50G of Flunitrazipam, Drug Felony 1
- Special Circumstances Import >14G Schedule I/II or 7G Meth, Heroin, Katamine, Cathinone OR > 10MG of Flunitrazepam, Drug Felony 1
The passenger has been identified as Vida Arellano, a 24-year-old resident of Apple Valley, California. Arellano is being held at the Mesa County Detention Facility on the following charges:
- Dist/Man/Possession w/Intent >225G Schedule I/II OR >112G Meth, Heroin, Katamine, Cathinone OR > 50G of Flunitrazipam, Drug Felony 1
- Special Circumstances Import >14G Schedule I/II or 7G Meth, Heroin, Katamine, Cathinone OR > 10MG of Flunitrazepam, Drug Felony 1
Photo by Mesa County Sheriff’s Office