Leader of Drug Trafficking Operation Through Utah Arrested

By Angela Martinez, October 10th 2024

An alleged leader of a drug trafficking operation was arrested after the police found him and two other men with meth, heroin and a car he altered to hide drugs in.   

 Rubdeil Camarillo Valdez, 28, was charged with two counts of distribute/offer/arrange distribution of a controlled substance, all second-degree felonies, and an altered vehicle for compartment for contraband: a class A misdemeanor. 

The police believe Valdez has ties to Sinaloa, Mexico, where some of the powerful cartels operate. 

Sometime around August an officer with the Davis County task force began investigating into the drug trafficking organization based in Salt Lake County, the affidavit states. 

 There were several controlled purchase operations, multiple individuals purchased redistributable of meth and heroin.  During these controlled operations officers claimed to see Valdez driving in neighborhoods where drug transactions took place. They also claimed to have seen Valdez returning to the same place of residence after these controlled operations. 

 Officers have finally obtained a search warrant for Valdez’s residence and all seven of his vehicles that he was seen driving during these controlled purchase operations.  

 During the week of September 22nd, an officer saw one of Valdez’s cars leaving Utah and entering Arizona, a state known to be a source of narcotics.  

Officers believed that Valdez’s vehicle was being used to transport drugs back into Utah, so they stopped both cars in Salt Lake County, Valdez was driving one car- a Ford Taurus, in the other vehicle a Chevrolet Malibu officers found approximately 20 pounds of meth and 10 pounds of heroin.  

 The two other men with Valdez agreed to let police search their phones, the found messages of Valdez directing the two men to collect drugs out of state and bring them back to Utah, along with messages of Valdez directing them to sell the drugs to customers. 

 Valdez was not in possession of the drugs he directed the transportation and distribution of the drugs as well as being a “look out” for police.  

 Valdez was booked into Salt Lake County jail on Sunday, September 29th.  He is facing two felony distribution counts, police believe he is a flight risk and may leave Utah  to avoid any prosecution.