Illegal Alien from Mexico Charged by the District of Utah After Allegedly Possessing a Large Quantity of Fentanyl Powder in the District of Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - A federal grand jury in Salt Lake City returned an indictment today charging an illegal alien from Mexico with drug and immigration crimes after 171 grams of fentanyl powder was allegedly found in his vehicle during a traffic stop.

Martin Erubiel Algandar Castro, 25, who was found illegally in Salt Lake City, Utah, was charged by complaint on June 30, 2026.

According to court documents, on June 25, 2026, law enforcement stopped a Jeep Cherokee driven by Castro for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, a K-9 officer alerted positive for the presence of drugs and the vehicle was searched. In the vehicle, law enforcement located and seized approximately 171 grams of suspected fentanyl powder, which field-tested positive for fentanyl. During the search, law enforcement also located and seized $1,513 on Castro and several wire transfer receipts sending money to Mexico.

As alleged in court documents, a brief search of Castro's phone revealed evidence of distribution. Additionally, Castro is not a citizen of the United States, and the government is unaware of any ties that Castro has to Utah and to the United States.

Castro is charged with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. His initial appearance on the indictment is scheduled for July 9, 2026, at 10:45 a.m. in courtroom 8.4 before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

United States Attorney Melissa Holyoak of the District of Utah made the announcement.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Pete Reichman for the District of Utah is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.