$160--Million Load of Cocaine Believed Destined for L.A. is Seized in Nevada
A cache of 675 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $160 million and believed to be en route from Colombia to Los Angeles was seized in a small southern Nevada town, authorities said. Four people were arrested.
“Drug traffickers are flying farther and farther north in an attempt to avoid increased law enforcement on the southern borders,” Robert Ogorchock, resident agent in charge of the U.S. Customs office in Las Vegas, said at a news conference Monday. “We believe this shipment was headed for Los Angeles.”
Acting on a tip from residents of Sandy Valley, an isolated desert town about 100 miles from Las Vegas, who had observed what they believed to be a sophisticated airborne smuggling operation, Customs officials set up a surveillance there nine months ago.
A Cessna 210 landed on a strip near the Sky Ranch Estates on Friday night and two men unloaded heavy bags and carried them inside a house, authorities said.
Police and federal agents, with search warrants, raided the house 12 hours later and seized 675 pounds of cocaine concealed in a bedroom closet and confiscated the $250,000 aircraft.
Ogorchock said the shipment originated in Colombia and the drug-laden aircraft entered the United States from Mexico.
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