A search for a man who police say was carrying drugs in a car that was stopped Monday night in Juab County has been called off for now.
After a nightlong search, officers apprehended one man at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday after seeing him try to escape the area by jumping into a getaway car.
He and three other passengers are being held at Juab County Jail.
The other man who was in the car has not yet been found by police but is thought to have been less involved and is likely no longer in the area, according to police.
"The trail's not fresh anymore," said Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Doug Anderson. "It's like trying to find a needle in the haystack at this point, and I really believe he's left the area."
The two men fled into the foothills near Nephi Canyon after UHP troopers reportedly found drugs in their vehicle during a routine traffic stop on I-15 about 8:30 Monday night.
Troopers said they found about 2 pounds of cocaine and 3 pounds of methamphetamine. The packages of drugs have an estimated street value of $100,000 and $125,000, respectively.
The men were heading north, and police say they were probably coming from Phoenix. They don't believe the two are drug dealers.
"These subjects are probably just smugglers, paid to transport the drugs," said Lt. Fred Swain, a UHP special operations supervisor.
The man may be charged with federal charges of cocaine and meth possession, which carry a combined sentence of 15 years without parole.
Numerous police agencies worked together in the search for the men.
"This operation went like clockwork, given the number of agencies involved," Swain said.
He said each agency played a distinct role, with the UHP, Nephi and Juab County sheriff's deputies containing search areas, the Utah Department of Corrections lending search dogs to the effort, the Utah Department of Public Safety patrolling by helicopter, and Federal Drug Enforcement agents investigating.
E-mail: mdecker@desnews.com