DPS NEWS

Every year, drug samples are submitted to the Utah Bureau of Forensic Sciences (Crime Lab) laboratories by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The Chemistry Section of the lab compiles a Top Ten list of substances submitted for testing each year. This list represents the ten substances most frequently submitted to the […]

Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Highway Patrol troopers seized more than 300 pounds of marijuana on I-80 Monday morning. At approximately 7:30 a.m., a Utah Highway Patrol (UHP) trooper stopped a pickup truck on I-80 at milepost 158 for making an improper lane change. After speaking to the driver of the vehicle, the UHP trooper […]

SALT LAKE CITY – A four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City charges James Musa Gama, age 39, of Salt Lake City, with two counts of possession of the synthetic cannabinoid commonly known as “spice” and two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. […]

As part of Operation Rio Grande, Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Agents served their 23rd search warrant. The warrant was served at a residence in the Glendale area of Salt Lake City on the morning of Tuesday, February 27. Agents became aware of a group of Honduran nationals who were […]

In January, the Department of Public Safety’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Narcotics Agents received information related to a Honduran drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of heroin and cocaine around the Salt Lake Valley.  Agents were able to identify six subjects associated with the drug trafficking group. After further investigation, SBI Agents were […]

In 2017 the Department of Public Safety’s State Bureau of Investigation’s (SBI) Major Crimes Unit conducted various investigations from cyber crime to assessing threats against individuals and critical infrastructure. SBI Agents also served as liaisons for new refugees in Utah. Here are 2017 year highlights for the unit: During 2017 the State Bureau of Investigation-Evidence […]

SALT LAKE CITY – The Department of Public Safety (DPS)  along with the Utah Poison Control Center (UPCC) are issuing a warning regarding a product labeled as “CBD” oil that is being sold at area smoke shops.  Since early November, the UPCC has received numerous calls about people becoming ill after using the oil. Adverse […]

“All crimes, all threats, all hazards.” (SALT LAKE CITY)— The Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Troopers and Agents had a busy year across the state of Utah. From arresting homicide suspects to seizing hundreds of pounds of drugs; there is no crime, threat or hazard DPS officers do not come across. In 2017, the Department […]

Agents with the Utah Department of Public Safety and multiple law enforcement agencies from across the Salt Lake Valley collaborated on an operation to take down criminal activity across the Salt Lake Valley. This operation was based on direct intelligence gathered through Operation Rio Grande. On the morning of December 12 officers from DPS’ State […]

In the month of November, agents from the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) have arrested multiple known drug dealers in connection to intelligence gathered during Operation Rio Grande. SBI agents arrested a local drug dealer and seized five pounds of methamphetamine likely destined for the Rio Grande area. Additionally, agents executed a search warrant in […]

Significant Updates: Latest statistics: the numbers of jail booked arrests are continuing to decrease as Operation Rio Grande continues.  The number of arrests with a use of force was zero during week 15. There were 26 drug-related arrests during this week. Since the operation began on August 14, the grand total jail booked arrests is […]

For the past 14 weeks, the Department of Public Safety’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) agents have been working diligently to break up the vast drug networks that are preying on a vulnerable population in our state. Suppression operations, search warrants and daily police work have resulted in 126 distribution arrests and more than eight […]

Four spice overdoses have been reported in the Rio Grande district in a four-day period this month, which have emergency responders on alert. The overdoses were due to the use of spice, however, medical teams used Naloxone to save each patient. Naloxone typically only works when used on patients who have used an opioid. But, […]

The Department of Public Safety’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) agents served two search warrants this week at homes in Salt Lake City and West Valley City. As a result of the warrants, six foreign nationals were arrested. Five of the individuals are Honduran narcotic dealers. Agents found heroin and cocaine at both residences. The […]

From 2013 to 2015, our state ranked seventh-highest in the nation for deadly drug overdoses. A new trend could see that number climb even higher. Our crime lab is seeing multiple dangerous, and even unknown, compounds packed into illicitly manufactured pills and capsules, and often times criminals try to pass these off as the same […]

For Immediate Release May 8, 2017   MEDIA ALERT:   Illegal Drug Findings & Public Warning May 10 at 9:00 a.m. What:  The Utah Department of Public Safety issues a “special hazard warning” to the public about new trends in street drugs across Utah. The crime laboratory has identified a single tablet that appears to be illicitly manufactured […]

On the morning of April 25, a UHP Trooper patrolling the area near the Utah/Arizona border stopped a vehicle heading northbound. A UHP K-9 was dispatched to the scene, where it indicated to the presence of narcotics. Further searching revealed two secret compartments containing 42 brick shaped packages, totaling 50 pounds. Field testing returned positive […]