Salt Lake City police and undercover agents arrest 20 people on Jordan River Trail

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — As part of police efforts to reduce crime along the Jordan River Trail, Salt Lake City Police Department conducted an operation this month in which 20 people were arrested and hundreds of illegal drugs were seized.

Since October 2023, the SLCPD’s Pioneer Patrol Division has increased its patrol activities around the Jordan River Trail and surrounding areas by conducting daily patrols, weekly strategy meetings and occasional police operations, according to a recent press release.

The most recent operations, which took place on June 15 and 19, involved officers from the SLCPD and the Utah Department of Corrections Adult Parole and Release (AP&P) Policies.

Authorities said they arrested 20 people and seized methamphetamine, marijuana, over 500 fentanyl pills, two illegally possessed guns and more than $2,000 in cash. As part of the operation, undercover agents purchased drugs from dealers, which ultimately led to their arrests.

“The overall objective of this operation was to identify, locate and apprehend drug dealers, smugglers and buyers along the Jordan River Trail,” the SLCPD press release said.

Last month, Officials arrested more than 30 people on the Jordan River and Folsom Trail as part of another operation. In April 28 people were arrested and more than 2,000 fentanyl tablets were seized.

While the timing of the operations is not publicly known, SLCPD has performed at least one operation every month this year. The department said it expects similar operations to be conducted in the future.

The SLCPD said it has been working on a multidisciplinary approach since October, coordinating with city, county and state agencies to address issues related to the Jordan River Trail.