On Oct. 14, officers pulled over a vehicle near Interstate 10 and Sarival Avenue, according to the Goodyear Police Department. While speaking with the two occupants, officers observed signs suggesting they might be carrying illegal items.

A police K-9 was called to the scene and alerted officers to the presence of something in the vehicle, prompting a search. Inside, officers found an aftermarket hidden compartment containing approximately 13.2 pounds of fentanyl powder.

Police estimated the street value of the fentanyl at roughly $5,400 to $7,300 per pound. Depending on purity and quality, the total seizure could be worth between $72,000 and $96,000.

The two people in the vehicle — Marco Ayala, 27, and Emely Varela, 24, both of Yuma — were arrested and face drug and conspiracy charges.

The bust highlights the ongoing challenge of fentanyl trafficking through Arizona corridors. The synthetic opioid, which is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, has been a major driver of overdose deaths nationally and in Arizona. Even small amounts can be lethal; 13 pounds of the powder could represent hundreds of thousands of potentially fatal doses.

Goodyear police did not release additional details about the investigation, including whether the suspects have prior records or whether the case is connected to a larger trafficking network. The arrests were first reported by local media this week.

Both Ayala and Varela are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. It was not immediately clear whether they have retained legal counsel.