COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Neighborhood Narcotics Unit Wednesday made a big drug bust, including the largest single seizure of suspected drug-related cash in the department's history.
Two search warrants were served simultaneously at separate houses Wednesday morning. The result was three people arrested and the seizure of about 5 pounds of high-grade marijuana, a pound of high-potency hash and about $185,000 cash.
At a house near 2250 East and 7150 South, a husband and wife, Travis and Melissa Eubanks, were arrested for investigation of drug distribution. In their house, investigators seized about $179,000, said Salt Lake County Sheriff's Lt. Chris Bertram. Also inside the house were two children, ages 2 or younger, who were taken into state protective custody.
While that search warrant was being served, another was served at a house near 2500 East and 6500 South. Most of the marijuana and hash was recovered from that house and Brandon Keirnes was arrested for investigation of drug distribution, the sheriff's office said.
The busts were the culmination of a monthlong investigation that included surveillance on both homes, Bertram said. The houses were believed to be connected, he said. The drugs were being shipped to the houses from out of state, Bertram added. Investigators believe some personal drug deals were happening at the houses. But mostly, the residences would receive large shipments of marijuana, which from there would be distributed around the valley, including to high schools, clubs, recreational users or whomever was willing to buy, he said. Long waterproof bags used to transport the drugs reportedly were also found in the houses as well as other drug paraphernalia such as scales and packaging materials.
Wednesday's bust was the second investigation for the sheriff's office in less than a week. Saturday morning, a search warrant was served at a house near 2600 South and 3400 West. In that house, 63 pounds of normal-potency marijuana was seized in addition to a handgun. Eusebio Sanchez was arrested for investigation of drug-related charges.
Regular marijuana has a street value of about $600 per pound, Bertram said. The pot from Wednesday's bust, which has more of the active chemical THC, has a street value of up to $5,000 per pound. Investigators believe the money seized from Wednesday's busts was from just one week's worth of drug sales.
Additional arrests from the busts were pending Wednesday.
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