Ricardo Verduzco Bernal, a former government official from Sinaloa, Mexico, was arrested in Salt Lake City, Utah, for trafficking fentanyl, according to a August 24 report.
Following a controlled purchase of fentanyl, authorities detained Bernal in a hotel room in Salt Lake County on August 12. A subsequent search of the room uncovered approximately 11,160.65 grams of fentanyl, which is equivalent to about 111,000 pills.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI's Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force with support from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Federal agencies stated that Bernal was in the United States on a visitor visa.
Bernal is expected to face charges for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. He was scheduled to appear in court on August 26, 2026, at the Orrin G. Hatch Court in downtown Salt Lake City.
Verduzco Bernal is 54 years old and served as an official in the government of Sinaloa. In 2022, he was named interim director at the Municipal Institute of Sports. In November 2024, he joined the Sinaloa Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, a position he held until July 31 of this year.
