Police Seize $1.3 Million, Luxury Cars, Guns and Furs in Cocaine Raid

The seizure of more than $1.3 million in cash, along with luxury cars, guns, furs and jewelry by Burbank police and U.S. Customs Service agents culminated a three-month investigation into a cocaine distribution and money-laundering network, authorities said Sunday.

No drugs were found at any of 11 Los Angeles locations searched Thursday and Friday, but investigators discovered paper work that indicated about 300 pounds of cocaine, with a wholesale value of $2 million, recently had been distributed through the network, Burbank Police Lt. Joe Valento said.

Six San Fernando Valley residents and a Texan were arrested during the raids on suspicion of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and more arrests are expected, he said. The seven suspects were being held Sunday at Burbank Municipal Jail in lieu of $2 million bail each.

“You’re always disappointed when you don’t get the drugs, because our main purpose is to get the drugs off the street so it doesn’t get into the pipeline,” Valento said. “But any time you can hurt the distributors, that’s helpful, too.”

Arrested were Arturo J. Aguilera, 33, and Nelly P. Villegas, 36, both of Tarzana; Mukhtiar S. Sagoo, 55, Iqbal S. Sagoo, 26, Haripal H. Sagoo, 22, and Edward F. Pena, 19, all of Granada Hills, and Filiberto Prieto, 32, of Houston.

Of the $1.3 million, $800,000 was found in boxes in a garage in Tarzana and $500,000, along with a mechanical money counter, in a self-storage locker in Tarzana.

Authorities also seized three Mercedes-Benzes, a 1987 Ferrari Testarossa valued at about $150,000, and three less-expensive cars.

Additional money, as well as five guns and other property valued at $60,000, were seized at homes in Tarzana and Granada Hills, police said.

The property can be ordered forfeited if it was found to have been used in a drug sale.