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Drug bust nets 33 members of Salt Lake’s Norteno street gang — who allegedly had ties to Mexican drug cartels

More than 30 members of the Norteno street gang are facing federal charges after a major drug-trafficking bust in Salt Lake City.

"This is a street gang in Salt Lake County that has direct contact with the drug-producing cartels of Mexico," said U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber at a press conference on Wednesday, according to FOX 13.

The 33 people arrested — including the alleged Norteno kingpins, Joe Gomez of Sandy and Denny Kandt of Salt Lake City — are being charged with playing a part in an elaborate multi-million dollar heroin and methamphetamine operation that brouight heroin and meth from Sinaloa, Mexico, to Salt Lake City.

Huber said his office and the Metro Gang Unit teamed up June of 2018, and brought in agencies including the DEA, ATF, IRS, U.S. Marshals. As part of the investigation, agents seized 30 pounds of heroin, two pounds of methamphetamine, 19 firearms and $19,000 in cash.

See more at FOX 13.

Editor’s note: The Salt Lake Tribune and FOX 13 are content-sharing partners.