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SANDY -- Sandy police, along with Utah County Major Crimes Task Force, arrested nearly 40 drug dealers in a recent sting. They targeted Utah County teens coming into Salt Lake County to buy cheaper drugs.
Officers have noticed this trend for some time now, but recently they say it's escalated.
"The kids are getting together in the morning down in Utah County, pooling their money together, and then one or two kids will actually drive up here and come purchase a large quantity," says Sandy police Sgt. Troy Arnold.
| Utah County Major Crimes | Sandy PD | |
|---|---|---|
| **Arrested** | 21 | 18 |
| **Guns** | 1 | 1 |
| **Vehicles** | 2 | - |
| **Cash** | $1,705 | $5,860 |
| **Meth** | 1.56 lbs | - |
| **Heroin** | 2.42 oz | 5.4 oz |
| **Cocaine** | 1.1 oz | 4.5 oz |
Sandy police officers and the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force worked together to bust 39 people in six days -- mostly low-level drug dealers. They seized one and a half pounds of meth, worth $41,000; 7.8 ounces of heroin, and 5.6 ounces of cocaine. They also apprehended two guns and $7,000 in cash.
| **Arrested Suspects** | 39 | |
| **Guns seized** | 2 | |
| **Vehicles seized** | 2 | |
| **Cash seized** | $7,565 | |
| **Methamphetamine** | 1.56 lbs | Street value by the 8 ball: $41,600 |
| **Heroin** | 7.8 oz | Street value by the balloon, SL County: $7,400 |
| Street value by the balloon, Utah County: $14,800 | ||
| **Cocaine** | 5.6 oz | Street value by the balloon, SL County: $5,300 |
| Street value by the balloon, Utah County: $10,600 |
Police say Salt Lake drug dealers will not drive down to Utah County, and they know the kids will come to them.
"The sad thing, and the unfortunate thing, we're seeing is they're actually young -- 16 to 24 years old is the average age," Arnold says.
After the operation ended, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement got involved. Many of those arrested now face deportation.
E-mail: ngonzales@ksl.com
