IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — A man from Salt Lake City, Utah is accused of trying to traffic meth after the Iredell County Sheriff's Office arrested him in December 2021.
Deputies say 25-year-old Daniel Gallardo had about 17 pounds of meth on his person when he was arrested on Dec. 22 along I-77. The sheriff's office worked with a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) team based out of Charlotte as part of an ongoing joint investigation. According to deputies, Gallardo was trafficking the meth for a Mexican organization that was operating within the U.S.
The meth was reportedly worth just less than $795,000. Gallardo is now in jail and was issued a $750,000 secured bond for two felony charges: trafficking meth by transportation, and trafficking meth by possession.
Sheriff Darren Campbell said in a statement the relationship between his office and HSI has proven to be strong, and that there's a butterfly effect associated with these arrests.
“Our relationship with Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Office has been an ongoing and very beneficial partnership for more than 20 years. This relationship has had a direct and positive impact in combating the narcotics trade within Iredell County and the Western District of North Carolina," he said. "By stopping these drugs from getting into our communities, we have undoubtedly saved lives from potential overdoses, saved families who are not having to deal with domestic violence, and saved our community members from becoming victims of larcenies, breaking and entering, and robberies which are committed by those who needed money to buy these drugs to support their habit. Remember, we are just two or three days away from the Mexican border, and when the border is secure, we are more secure.”
Note: WCNC instituted a new policy in March 2021 regarding the broadcast or posting of mugshots.
WCNC will only air or post a mugshot if the person has been formally charged with a crime and in a few other cases. The exceptions include: If it appears the person could be a danger to themselves or others or if they are wanted by authorities; to differentiate between people with a common name; if the photos could encourage more victims to come forward. The news-editorial leadership may also decide to use a mugshot based on the severity of the crime(s) committed and/or the level of public interest in the crime and ensuing criminal proceedings.
A mugshot for Gallardo was not provided at the time of the news release from the sheriff's office.
