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State troopers and agents seized thousands of pounds of drugs in Utah this year

(Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Dept. of Pubic Safety released the year end numbers of drug seizures for 2017 . K-9 officer UHP Sgt. Randy Riches and drug sniffng dog Terro do a training exercise Monday Dec. 18. Planted in the car are 80 grams of heroin. After a quick walk around the car It only took about 10 seconds for the dog to signal where the drugs were hidden in the trunk.

  | Dec. 19, 2017, 2:48 a.m.
| Updated: 4:51 a.m.

Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers seized thousands of pounds of drugs in 2017, according to a report released Monday afternoon.

The DPS reported intercepting 4,450 pounds of marijuana, more than 550 pounds of methamphetamine, over 100 pounds of cocaine, 46 pounds of heroin and 1,100 pills in 2017.

Troopers stopped 226 vehicles trafficking narcotics, according to the report. An April bust of a motorist revealed that he was smuggling 42 bricks of methamphetamine, totaling 50 pounds of the drug.

In addition, agents and troopers also seized 40 firearms from restricted people.

Troopers confiscated fewer pills and marijuana this year than in 2016 but nearly three times the amount of cocaine. They seized about the same amount of heroin as last year.