Sunday, October 30, 2016

104kg Meth bust in Utah involves Canadians, Sinaloa drug cartel

On October 10, Utah Highway Patrol troopers acting on a tip made what is believed to be the biggest methamphetamine bust in that state's history. Troopers seized more than 230 pounds of meth after a traffic stop near Springville. Investigators found boxes and suitcases filled with meth, in addition to steroids and $66,000 in cash.

Brennan Carter Tutt, 24, of Airdrie, Kyle Carlson Taylor, 19, of Calgary and Caicedo Ramirez Santiago, 20, of Calgary were charged in U.S. District Court with meth possession with intent to distribute.

Brennan Carter Tutt

Kyle Carlson Taylor
Taylor was the driver of the vehicle. The duffel bag with the money belonged to Tutt. All denied knowledge of the drugs or the money. The charges carry a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence.

The wholesale value of the meth is estimated between $400 and $800 per ounce, making the 236 pounds that was seized worth between $1.5 million and $3 million. That would make the street value of the bust something between $7.5 million and $15 million. (USD)

The Sinaloa Cartel is often described as the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the Western Hemisphere.
Caicedo Ramirez Santiago
The cartel's operations in foreign countries, and even within Mexico, are often outsourced to local partners.Joaquin El Chapo Loera, "El Chapo," is the infamous leader of the Sinaloa drug cartel.