CEDAR CITY — A "family" cross-country trip to visit a sick relative was really a cover for a million-dollar drug-trafficking operation, deputies allege.

When the group of four adults and three children were pulled over on I-15 about 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Iron County Sheriff's Deputy Wade Lee thought the driver was intoxicated or tired as he weaved back and forth across a lane. A noticeable smell of marijuana put Lee on alert, especially as all four adults started lighting cigarettes, possibly to mask the smell of drugs, he said.

"The woman in the passenger seat, she was acting pretty nervous," Lee said. "She mentioned her 2-year-old was sick. It didn't make sense she was lighting up."

With consent to search, Lee checked the back of the Chevy sports utility vehicle where he found almost empty saran wrap and tin foil, but the real treasure trove was discovered in the center console.

Lee pulled out a kilo of cocaine — more than 2 pounds worth — in the form of a solid brick of white powder. A thorough search revealed a total 9 pounds of cocaine, which deputies estimate would procure $2 million if mixed with other things and sold on the street.

"That's a large amount," said Iron County Sheriff's Sgt. Del Schlosser. "I can't think of one over that amount in the last year."

The group claimed they were visiting one man's sick uncle, Lee said. When the deputy asked about what he was sick with, the man replied, "cancer."

"I asked what kind of cancer does he have, and the man's face turned white," Lee said. "Another man blurted out 'throat cancer.' I knew something was up."

Lee said the three men and woman had traveled from Ohio to California and were returning via Utah with three children, ages 2, 11 and 13, to smuggle illegal drugs back to their hometown of Warren, Ohio.

According to deputies, the driver was questioned outside of the vehicle, and after multiple times being asked, he eventually admitted to the cocaine in the vehicle and a .38 caliber gun that deputies found with the drugs.

Further searching turned up marijuana, some of which was hidden in the soles of shoes, and additional weapons, deputies said.

One man said his main job was to look after the two girls, ages 11 and 13, who were on the trip solely to make it seem like a "family outing," Lee said. Neither of the girls' parents were in the vehicle. The adults told deputies that one of the men is dating the girls' mother.

The 28-year-old driver and 26-year-old female passenger, who are the parents of the 2-year-old, were arrested along with the other two men, ages 24 and 30, on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, which Lee said could be enhanced because of weapons in the vehicle and the children, possession of a firearm by a restricted person, violation of drug stamp tax act and child abuse and neglect.

The children were taken into state custody and deputies said attempts will be made to reach one of the children's parents.

e-mail: lgroves@desnews.com