This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Utah Attorney General's SECURE Strike Force agents arrested six people last week on suspicion of running an illegal drug and false identification-card operation.
According to news release issued Monday, the arrests occurred Thursday while the agents executed a search warrant at a Midvale apartment at 759 W. Center St. (7720 South).
Paul Murphy, spokesman for the attorney general, said the arrests conclude a lengthy investigation into an operation suspected of selling methamphetamine and false Social Security cards, driver licenses and alien registration cards, called green cards.
During the search, agents found fraudulent documents and methamphetamine packaged for sale.
Agents entered the apartment without notice because members of the operation were believed to carry guns, the news release states.
After the search as agents took the handcuffed suspects to the Salt Lake County jail, other residents of the apartment complex applauded the law enforcement officers and shouted thanks for removing the alleged drug traffickers, the release said.
Police said all six men are in the country illegally.
This is the 29th fake-document operation taken down by the Strike Force, which targets major crimes by people, who are in the country illegally .
Those arrested will be turned over to immigration officials for deportation proceedings at the conclusion of the criminal prosecutions, the news release states.