Local News in Brief : Sweep Nets 6 People, $1 Million in Cocaine

Aseries of arrests that began Sunday in Westlake Village and ended early Monday in Montebello has led to the seizure of almost $1 million worth of cocaine and heroin, and the jailing of six people, authorities said.

Participating in the weeklong investigation were narcotics investigators from the Ventura and Los Angeles county sheriff’s departments, the Montebello Police Department and the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, said Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Hank Carrillo.

The series of arrests began in Westlake Village about 8:30 p.m. when an undercover agent arranged to purchase five kilos of cocaine worth $600,000 from Julio Guerrero, 39, of Montebello, Carrillo said.

Guerrero was taken into custody after he took the officer to a nearby hotel, where a Rosemead man, Antonio Felix, 28, was waiting with the cocaine, Carrillo said. Felix was arrested as he left the hotel lobby, authorities said.

The four other suspects were arrested at two residences in Montebello. They were identified as Dora Herns, 32; Jesus Beltran, 30; Martin Sicairos, 35, and Leopoldo Beltran, 24. Officers confiscated 15 ounces of heroin worth $360,000, two loaded firearms and $40,000 in cash at the Montebello homes, Carrillo said.

A small amount of cocaine and $100,000 in cash also were seized at a Rosemead residence in connection with the investigation, investigators said. The cash was from drug sales, Carrillo said.

The six people were taken to Ventura County Jail, where they remained in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail each. They face charges including possessing cocaine for sale and conspiring to distribute cocaine, Carrillo said.