Major drug bust in Kearns nets 3 arrests, meth, cash, cars, guns

Three people were arrested, and drugs, cash, weapons and vehicles were seized in what law enforcers are calling one of the biggest drug busts ever in Utah.

"These are the highest-level people you can have in the United States," Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Michael Root said of those arrested. "These are the highest-level players for Utah."

The DEA, Salt Lake City Narcotics Task Force, Utah County Major Crimes Task Force, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Utah Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Utah Highway Patrol and Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office worked jointly in the investigation that culminated in a search warrant served Thursday morning in Kearns. Based on what was found at that house, several more search and seizures were conducted throughout the day.

By the end of Thursday, two adults and one juvenile were arrested, and agents seized 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine, about $500,000 cash, four weapons and eight vehicles.

The bust was the result of a nine-month investigation that began with another drug bust in Kearns. That bust yielded 13 pounds of meth, Root said.

Investigators said this group was one of the largest suppliers of meth in the Salt Lake area.

"They were a major organization for Salt Lake," Root said. "They were moving 20 to 30 pounds of meth up into the Salt Lake area every couple of weeks. This is one of the biggest ones we've come across."

The drugs were manufactured in so-called super labs in Mexico before being shipped to Utah, Root said. One of the adults and the 15-year-old boy arrested were U.S. citizens. The other adult was a Mexican national. Additional arrests were pending Friday.

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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com

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