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DEA in court documents after Kaysville spice bust:
[November 26, 2012]

DEA in court documents after Kaysville spice bust:


OGDEN, Nov 26, 2012 (Standard-Examiner - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- The owner of a Kaysville smoke shop arrested earlier this month in a $60,000 spice bust is connected to the Iraqi Mafia gang and poses a threat to police, the Drug Enforcement Administration says.



A 46-page federal court document in support of a Nov. 15 search warrant details criminal allegations against Adel Al-Mukahel, 44, of West Valley City.

The warrant to search cellphones and computers from Al-Mukahel's residence also offers a glimpse into the inner workings of his suspected large-scale spice operation.


Spice, a synthetic drug that gives the user a marijuana-like high, is banned in Utah. President Barack Obama, in July, signed into law legislation prohibiting spice, bath salts and other synthetic drugs.

Federal court documents state that DEA Special Agent Matt Fairbanks is investigating Al-Mukahel, the owner of Victor's Smoke Shop in Kaysville and VIP Smokes & Hookah in South Jordan, on suspicion of drug trafficking and money laundering.

There is no indication that Al-Mukahel has been indicted on federal charges.

Sue Thomas, a spokeswoman for the DEA in Salt Lake City, said she couldn't comment on the court documents obtained by the Standard-Examiner because the matter is under investigation.

Al-Mukahel is considered dangerous because of his association with Maithan Alfatwali, described in the court documents as a ranking member of the Iraqi Mafia gang that operates in the Salt Lake City area, Fairbanks said.

"Your affiant received information from other law enforcement agencies that Alfatwali is heavily involved in money laundering for the gang, specifically for drug sales," Fairbanks states in the documents.

"Your affiant was informed by Salt Lake City gang detectives that the Alfatwali family and Iraqi Mafia members have armed OGDEN -- The owner of a Kaysville smoke shop arrested earlier this month in a $60,000 spice bust is connected to the Iraqi Mafia gang and poses a threat to police, the Drug Enforcement Administration says.

A 46-page federal court document in support of a Nov. 15 search warrant details criminal allegations against Adel Al-Mukahel, 44, of West Valley City.

The warrant to search cellphones and computers from Al-Mukahel's residence also offers a glimpse into the inner workings of his suspected large-scale spice operation.

Spice, a synthetic drug that gives the user a marijuana-like high, is banned in Utah. President Barack Obama, in July, signed into law legislation prohibiting spice, bath salts and other synthetic drugs.

Federal court documents state that DEA Special Agent Matt Fairbanks is investigating Al-Mukahel, the owner of Victor's Smoke Shop in Kaysville and VIP Smokes & Hookah in South Jordan, on suspicion of drug trafficking and money laundering.

There is no indication that Al-Mukahel has been indicted on federal charges.

Sue Thomas, a spokeswoman for the DEA in Salt Lake City, said she couldn't comment on the court documents obtained by the Standard-Examiner because the matter is under investigation.

Al-Mukahel is considered dangerous because of his association with Maithan Alfatwali, described in the court documents as a ranking member of the Iraqi Mafia gang that operates in the Salt Lake City area, Fairbanks said.

"Your affiant received information from other law enforcement agencies that Alfatwali is heavily involved in money laundering for the gang, specifically for drug sales," Fairbanks states in the documents.

"Your affiant was informed by Salt Lake City gang detectives that the Alfatwali family and Iraqi Mafia members have armed ___ (c)2012 the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) Visit the Standard-Examiner (Ogden, Utah) at www.standard.net Distributed by MCT Information Services

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