3 are arrested in drug probe

OREM — Police said a monthlong undercover investigation of a suspected heroin and cocaine trafficking ring ended last weekend with the arrests of three men and the confiscation of drugs worth $268,000.

Utah County Major Crimes Task Force Lt. Mike Forshee said it represented "the most significant single heroin" confiscation made by the 25-member vice squad made up of officers from cop departments throughout Utah County.

During the investigation officers identified the source of the drugs, which led them to pulling over a vehicle at 500 W. Center in Orem early Friday morning.

Officers found about 5 ounces of heroin in the vehicle and arrested a 29-year-old Orem man and a 28-year-old Kearns man. They were booked into Utah County Jail for investigation of possession and distribution of heroin and cocaine.

From information learned during that traffic stop and subsequent arrests, officers obtained a search warrant for a home in southwest Salt Lake County, Forshee said.

When officers searched the home they found 1.4 pounds of heroin with a street value of $125,000 and numerous firearms, Forshee said. They arrested a 21-year-old Kearns man and booked him into Salt Lake County Jail.

Armed with another search warrant from more information obtained during the undercover investigation, officers went to a storage unit in Orem on Saturday and seized an additional 2 pounds of heroin with a street value of about $143,000, Forshee said.