By Jon Greiner
Ogden City Police Chief and Utah State Senator

For those interested in the immigration discussion, here is a report from one of my team leaders on the Weber/Morgan Narcotics Strike Force.  Joe Pyrah used some of these stats in  Police: Illegals responsible for much of drug trade

From: Burnett, Troy
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 2:45 PM
Subject: Illegal Alien effect on Drug Crime in Weber and Morgan Counties

In recent weeks, there has been a lot of discussion and debate over the new law in Arizona dealing with illegal aliens. Locally, there has been debate over the effects of such a law in Utah. Salt Lake City Police Chief Burbank is an outspoken opponent to such a law with Representative Carl Wimmer being a vocal proponent. See http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=10598798.

The Strike Force would like to supply you with facts as it relates to Illegal aliens and the drug activity in Weber and Morgan Counties.

From May 2009 to May 2010, Strike Force Agents made 483 drug related arrests. Of those 38, or approximately 8%, were illegal aliens. Those 38 illegal aliens were responsible for 82% of the total drugs seized in that time period, which relates to 17.11 pounds of methamphetamine, 12.86 pounds of cocaine, 1.5 pounds of heroin and 225.16 pounds of marijuana.  The Drug Enforcement Administration states in its drug threat assessment for Utah, “Drug Situation: Mexican poly-drug trafficking organizations dominate all facets of illegal narcotics distribution throughout Utah. Sources of supply for methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana are primarily located in Mexico, California, the Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest.” See http://www.justice.gov/dea/pubs/state_factsheets/utah.html.

In conclusion, if Utah enacted a law similar to the Arizona law, dealing with illegal aliens, the Strike Force would likely see a drastic reduction in the supply of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana in Weber and Morgan Counties. We would expect to see the price of these drugs increase dramatically, reducing the number of new addicts and a significant reduction in the peripheral crime (burglary, theft and identity/check fraud) associated with drug addicts.

Listed below are some of the cases involving illegal aliens within the last year: [Case studies deleted - call if you need them.]

. . . .

Sergeant Troy Burnett
Weber/Morgan Narcotics Strike Force
801-629-8116

Frosted Barbed Wire photo credit to Andy Tillo of Tillo 13 Photoworks