Agents also searched a South Jordan home, near 11400 South and 4600 West, purportedly used by Shamo as a "stash location." There they located about 70,000 pills "that have the appearance of oxycodone" and more than 25,000 pills that look like Xanax, the complaint says. Based on prior investigations, officers believe the oxycodone-like pills are also fentanyl, an illicit and potent synthetic opioid, disguised to look like a somewhat weaker drug.
"The biological effects of the fentanyls are indistinguishable from those of heroin, with the exception that the fentanyls may be hundreds of times more potent," according to a DEA description of the drug.
A hazardous-materials team was on the scene Tuesday to process the chemicals and seized items.
"Due to the extreme dangerousness of fentanyl, agents have not yet been able to test the substances seized at the Shamo home," according to the federal complaint.
Shamo apparently had packages from China sent to other individuals over the past year to avoid detection. Agents seized "several of the packages," tested the contents and found that one contained at least 120 grams of fentanyl.
DEA spokesman James Gothe told The Salt Lake Tribune that the warrant to search the homes would be sealed until Wednesday.
Shamo is accused of packaging the pills and mailing them throughout the U.S. His initial court appearance is set for Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dustin Pead.
ctanner@sltrib.com
Twitter: @CourtneyLTanner