Woman charged with allegedly trafficking illegal drugs through Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A foreign national has been charged after allegedly trafficking methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and fentanyl through Utah.

Leonilde Andrea Lopez Vargas, 35, of Midvale, was charged Wednesday with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, the Utah District Attorney's Office said.

According to court documents, Vargas was arrested in June after a criminal investigation launched in November 2023 by the FBI Wasatch Metro Drug Task Force.

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Officers allegedly seized approximately 2.813 grams of fentanyl that tested positive in the field, or approximately 28,000 pills. Officers also seized approximately 1,648 grams of heroin that tested positive in the field and approximately 1,182.5 grams of cocaine that tested positive in the field at Vargas' residence in Midvale.

In Vargas' vehicle, agents seized approximately 478 grams of methamphetamine that tested positive in the field, the Utah District Attorney's Office said.

Prior to the June seizure, agents also seized approximately 502.88 grams of field-tested positive heroin, 1,892.11 grams of field-tested positive methamphetamine, approximately 670.62 grams of field-tested positive fentanyl and a digital scale from a storage unit believed to be linked to Vargas in West Valley City.

His first court appearance is scheduled for July 8 at 11:30 a.m.

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