SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, May 26, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) – A major drug bust in the Salt Lake Valley has yielded 41 pounds of methamphetamine and rounded up 24 suspects believed to be part of a complex meth distribution ring, the Utah Attorney General’s Office announced Friday.
Officials also seized 17 firearms, 13 of them from a felon who is prohibited from owning firearms.
Agents said the suspects arrested are all well-known dealers in the Salt Lake City area. Eighteen of the 24 people charged have been arrested, officials said. Seventeen of them are still in custody.
The FBI and DEA worked together to coordinate the investigation. The meth supplier is in California, officials said.
Speaking at a Friday morning news conference, John Huber, United States Attorney for the District of Utah, said Utah has experienced an 8 percent rise in crime in recent years. The category of violent crimes has increased 13 percent, he said, and aggravated assault — meaning assault with a weapon — has increased 17 percent, Huber said.
Huber said a priority in Utah has been inter-agency partnerships and cooperation.
“Today, we see how that pays off for the public good,” he said.
Huber shared the stage and the spotlight with Drug Enforcement Agency agent in charge Brian Besser; FBI assistant agent in charge Daniel Brady; Metro Narcotics Task Force and Unified Police Deputy Director Randy Thomas; Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown; Sandy City Police Chief Kevin Thacker; and Murray City Police Chief Craig Burnett.
“Our hope is to announce that these increases in the crime rates are merely a blip, and not a trend,” Huber said.
He described the nature of the organized crime in Utah.
“Drug trafficking profiteers,” he said. “Many firearms. Large amounts of cash. Dozens of players with distinct roles and hierarchy. Counter surveillance, secret codes, and operational security… With these successful operations that we announce today, and the anticipated successful prosecutions, there will be a palpable positive impact on violent crime in Salt Lake County and the Wasatch Front.”
Chief Brown told reporters that the battle against drug dealers is tough since a market exists.
“We do our best on the enforcement front, but there’s always that demand, that insatiable appetite for narcotics, heroin, drugs, that’s in our communities,” he said. “The tentacles of drug dealing are far-reaching through our communities. This will make an impact. If we could do more, we’d do more… This will have a huge impact.”
41 plus another 50 pounds of meth captured in one day in Northern and Southern utah
Good job!
Thats. Mörmon land u would think not there Well wake up America its in your back yards look around its killing our kids Parents pay attention to your children Addiction is the Devil himself its hard to stop Those who make it have to stay on their toes some fall back u have to stay away from people places and thing
Ex HERON ADDICT.