SALT LAKE CITY, UT — Two Honduran nationals were arrested and charged in connection with a drug trafficking operation, authorities reported Monday.
Jorge Luis Hernandez-Valle, 36, and Luis Alfredo Hernandez, 35, both of Honduras, were residing in Salt Lake County when they were implicated in the alleged drug operation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah. The charges stem from an investigation launched by the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force earlier this year.
Detectives with the task force began their investigation in March 2025, focusing on a suspected drug trafficking organization operating within the region. The task force reportedly conducted a controlled narcotics purchase, which led to the identification of two individuals believed to be “drug runners” for the operation. Authorities were able to track the suspects and their vehicles, gathering evidence for further action.
On April 8, 2025, one of the vehicles, a Toyota 4Runner, was stopped in Kearns, a Salt Lake City suburb. The traffic stop was a key moment in the investigation, which authorities say provided critical evidence linking the two men to the trafficking ring.
Details of what was discovered during the stop have not yet been fully disclosed, but law enforcement officials believe the arrests will significantly impact the ongoing efforts to dismantle the drug trafficking operation in the region.
The charges against Hernandez-Valle and Hernandez are still developing, and federal prosecutors are expected to release more information as the case progresses. This operation marks the latest in a series of drug-related investigations in the area, with local law enforcement continuing to tackle organized crime.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with further information to come forward.