Two people were taken into custody in San Juan County, Utah, after a deputy discovered approximately $3 million worth of fentanyl hidden in a car during a routine traffic stop in Monticello. The arrests occurred on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
Alessandra Cardena Hernandez, 25, and Marco Antonio Macias Rodriguez, 57, were booked into the San Juan County Jail. They faced one count of first-degree felony trafficking fentanyl along with misdemeanor charges for drug possession and use of drug paraphernalia.
According to court documents, the stop began near 600 North and Main Street due to speeding. A San Juan County Sheriff's Office Deputy stated that the vehicle began to pull away while he was driving at a 30-mile-per-hour speed limit.
A deputy reported that the two individuals provided inconsistent stories during the encounter, which led to further investigation. After receiving consent to search the vehicle, the deputy found roughly 330,000 fentanyl pills with an estimated street value of $3 million located in the spare tire compartment.
The San Juan County Sheriff's Office stated that no further information would be released as the investigation into the case remains ongoing.
