Across the United States, including regions far from the southern border such as Utah, Mexican drug cartels have established a significant presence. The Salt Lake City Police Department has affirmed its commitment to combat these criminal organizations in a statement to The Federal Newswire.
"The Salt Lake City Police Department is committed to investigating and disrupting illegal drug distribution and human trafficking in our community," said Lake City Police Department. "Our partnerships with local, state, regional, and federal law enforcement agencies are critical in staying current on trends and to help reduce crime and enhance the quality of life in our city."
In a previous report by The Federal Newswire, it was noted that Utah has grappled with cartel-related issues in recent years. In 2023, a St. George resident was incarcerated for distributing large quantities of fentanyl on behalf of the Sinaloa Cartel. According to Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera, cartels are introducing fentanyl into Salt Lake County, which is contributing to an escalation in crime and fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Utah.
The U.S Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports that there were 541 overdose deaths in Utah in 2022, with fentanyl accounting for 74% of those fatalities. This represents a significant increase in fentanyl-related deaths compared to previous years; there were 54 such deaths in 2019 and 122 in 2020. U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah characterized fentanyl as "the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced."
Following a substantial drug seizure in Utah last December, Grand County Sheriff Jamison Wiggins informed KSL TV-5 that drugs, including fentanyl, are increasingly prevalent on Utah's streets. Over 120 pounds of drugs were confiscated during the bust by Grand County deputies, which included enough fentanyl to potentially kill 152,000 first-time users. Dustin Gillespie, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, attributed this surge of drugs within these communities to the Sinaloa Cartel. Gillespie further stated that prices of fentanyl have significantly dropped due to the prevalence of cartels and their drugs.
As reported by The Federal Newswire, both the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels are operating in all 50 states within the U.S. These two organizations are primarily responsible for trafficking fentanyl into the country, a drug that has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45. In Utah, their influence is expanding as evidenced by law enforcement's seizure of 1.9 million fentanyl pills in 2022, a figure that rose to 664,200 pills in 2023.
The Salt Lake City Police Department, founded in 1851 with Mike Brown serving as its chief of police, has a vision statement that reads: "We will build upon the noble traditions of integrity and trust to foster a culture of service, respect, and compassion toward our employees and the communities we serve," according to its official website.
