Narcotics Ring Broken Up; 16 Suspects Held

Authorities seized $38 million worth of cocaine and nearly $300,000 worth of heroin and arrested 16 suspected members of a narcotics distribution ring that operated from an estate in the gated Ventura County community of Bell Canyon, police said.

The arrests and seizures culminated a six-week investigation that spanned Orange, Los Angeles and Ventura counties and was conducted by Los Angeles and Anaheim police, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officials, Los Angeles police Lt. Dan Cooke said.

Officials seized 225 pounds of cocaine, with a street value of $38.3 million, and 372 grams of heroin, with a value of $297,600, as well as seven luxury cars and Jeeps, five guns, 40 pieces of expensive gold jewelry and more than $500,000 in currency, Cooke said.

The suspects were booked on suspicion of possession of cocaine for sale, Cooke said. Fourteen men are being held at Parker Center and two women at Sybil Brand Institute for Women, each in lieu of $2-million bail, Cooke said. They are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in Los Angeles Municipal Court.