DRUG DEALERS ALWAYS ON LOOKOUT FOR CUSTOMERS -- AND COPS

Chuck only had to look for a minute or two to find a woman willing to sell
him $40 worth of cocaine. She led him directly to Pioneer Park.

The woman introduced Chuck to "Pookie," who held the drugs. And just
seconds after the cocaine exchanged hands, three Salt Lake City patrol cars
swooped in.

Chuck is an undercover officer on the hunt for drug dealers in the park.

Less than a half hour into an undercover drug operation Oct. 7, Pookie and
the woman were handcuffed, searched and sent to jail.

Less than 15 minutes later, Chuck scored again. Two women promised to get
him some "white" for $40, but this deal turned out to be more complicated.

The women, who acted as go-betweens for the dealer and buyer, took the
officer's money and walked toward the restrooms in the park's center. They
approached several men, shaking hands and talking. Their movements confused
the police officer observing through binoculars at an undisclosed location.

Twenty minutes later, when the deal was complete, squad cars raced to each
end of the park. Two officers picked up the women who handed Chuck the
drugs, two others arrested the man who allegedly provided the drugs to the
women. He knew the sergeant by name.

The money was never recovered.

None of this amazes Sgt. Mike Ross. He has seen every type of deal. What
always gets him is how fast word spreads. After these two transactions,
Chuck can't find another buyer. Ross says he was lucky to get the second one.

"The word spread two blocks in five minutes," he said, shaking his head.

Most of the drugs are sold in small plastic balloons for $20 by
undocumented immigrants who are part of loose-knit organizations, police
say. The drugs originate in Mexico and make it to Utah through Los Angeles
or Phoenix.

Park dealers keep the balloons tucked inside their cheek so they can
swallow it quickly if an officer approaches, Ross said. Some hide it near a
tree in the park. They regularly carry heroin, cocaine, crack and small
amounts of marijuana. Ross has never found methamphetamine there, despite
its status as Utah drug of choice behind only alcohol and pot. He has no
idea why.

The park dealers are considered "the lowest rung of the organizations,"
Ross says, regularly selling to anyone who "gives them the nod." After
earning their stripes, they sell to regular customers who contact them by
pager.

Police say park dealers are protecting themselves more in recent years by
allowing users to act as go-betweens with buyers. The user earns his or her
daily "hit" by making a certain amount of deals, officers say. Three of the
five arrested on Oct. 7 were heroin addicts, Ross said.