Police Seize $1 Million Cash, Arrest 3 in Cocaine Stakeout

Los Angeles police seized more than $1 million in cash at a North Hollywood apartment Wednesday and arrested three Colombian nationals, a spokesman said.

The three, under investigation since January, are suspected of being links between cocaine importers and “rock-house” suppliers, Officer Don Lawrence said.

Police arrested Nelly Chacon Valencia, 37, Ever Puerta, 31, and Nancy Ruth Molano, 25, on suspicion of conspiracy to sell cocaine.

Police suspect that the three are involved in sales of drugs to street gangs in South-Central Los Angeles, Lawrence said.

Surveillance began Wednesday at an undisclosed location in Chino, where investigators observed Valencia in “a money or drug transaction” with an unidentified person, Lawrence said. Detectives followed her to an apartment in the 5400 block of Colfax Avenue, where they found Molano and Puerta, Lawrence said.

Valencia was arrested before she entered the apartment, and investigators recovered $100,000 in small bills from her purse, Lawrence said. Inside the apartment, detectives found one gram of cocaine crystal and four large boxes containing $1 million in cash, he said.

Police later found $85,000 in small denominations at the Chino location, he said.

Detectives suspect that the money may have been obtained from gang members, Lawrence said.

The three were being held in Van Nuys Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail each.