Two arrested in Bannock County for allegedly trafficking fentanyl
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POCATELLO — Two individuals were arrested in Bannock County on drug trafficking charges, court documents allege they were transporting over 500 grams of packaged fentanyl.
Christian Slatten, 54 and Amber Clements, 45, have each been charged with one count of trafficking in fentanyl in amounts of 28 grams or more and one count of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver.
Court documents state on Oct. 29 detectives with the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force were conducting surveillance on a vehicle driven by Slatten and Clements as part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.
In the process of the investigation, law enforcement determined Slatten had rented the vehicle from Avis Rental four days prior.
According to the arrest affidavit, as part of their investigation, the task force allegedly determined that Slatten and Clements had driven to Arizona to pick up a “large quantity” of fentanyl.
Detectives reportedly followed the vehicle from Utah to an area of Pocatello where the vehicle stopped at a gas station. Clements, Slatten and a third individual went inside the gas station where they were contacted and detained by law enforcement.
After detaining Clements, Slatten and the third individual, law enforcement allegedly searched the vehicle and found 584.8 packaged grams of a substance suspected to be fentanyl powder. According to Northwestern University, .02 grams of fentanyl is a potentially lethal dose. A field test performed by an Idaho State Police evidence tech allegedly had a presumptive positive result for fentanyl, and the substance was sent to the state crime lab for further testing.
If found guilty of the charges against them, Slatten and Clements may each face up to life in prison and may be required to pay fines of up to $125,000.
Clements and Slatten have each been appointed public defenders. The Idaho State Public Defender’s Office does not comment on active cases.
Clements is expected to appear in court Nov. 5 for a preliminary hearing. Slatten’s preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 10.
Although Slatten and Clements have been accused of these crimes, that does not necessarily mean they committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.