The two men arrested in what authorities call the largest methamphetamine seizure in Idaho history have been identified as Bryan Chavez Villa of Oregon and Elian Anthony Mariscal of Nevada, both age 25.

Both men are currently being held at the Fremont County Jail in St. Anthony on drug charges.

Mariscal faces four charges — one felony count of possession of a controlled substance, one felony count of drug trafficking with a partner, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance and one misdemeanor count of drug paraphernalia.

Chavez Villa faces two felony counts of drug trafficking, including possession of methamphetamine and possession of meth precursor ingredients.

Both men appeared before Fremont County Judge Farren Eddins on Thursday, represented by public defenders. They are scheduled to return for additional hearings before Eddins beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony.

The arrests stemmed from a traffic stop last Wednesday morning on U.S. Highway 20 near Chester, a small community outside St. Anthony. A Fremont County sheriff’s deputy conducting routine patrol pulled the men over around 10:52 a.m. and found 115.4 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value exceeding $1.5 million.

“This seizure represents the largest methamphetamine confiscation in Idaho history,” the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office said.

Fremont County Chief Deputy Cody Gudmunson said the deputy’s instincts and training made the difference.

“He’s an intuitive cop,” Gudmunson said. “He had probable cause to search the car.”

Probable cause can stem from a variety of factors, including erratic driving behavior or the detection of the odor of illegal substances during a traffic stop.

The deputy’s name has not been released out of safety concerns given the size of the bust.

“That’s such a large amount of drugs,” Gudmunson said. “We’re trying to protect him as much as we can.”

The bust came as the result of routine patrol operations — not a tip or targeted investigation — underscoring the impact that proactive law enforcement can have on drug interdiction along one of East Idaho’s major highways. Fremont County deputies are specifically trained to watch for drug trafficking activity, and the deputy involved knew exactly what to look for, Gudmunson said.

U.S. Highway 20 serves as a major thoroughfare through East Idaho, making it an attractive route for drug runners moving illegal narcotics through the region. Identifying and arresting drug runners on the highway is a “constant battle,” Gudmunson said.

The 115.4 pounds of methamphetamine will eventually be destroyed once the court case is adjudicated, authorities said.

“Eventually it’ll get sent to destruction once the court case is adjudicated, but that obviously takes time,” Gudmunson said.

“Illegal narcotics continue to have a devastating impact on families and communities across the nation,” the sheriff’s office said. “Fremont County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the residents of Fremont County through proactive enforcement efforts and continued dedication to public safety.”