Local News in Brief : 850 Pounds of Cocaine Seized

Police and federal agents smashed two separate drug rings, seizing more than 850 pounds of cocaine and $1 million in cash and arresting 13 people, authorities said Friday.

Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department arrested two men at a home in the Boyle Heights area of East Los Angeles Thursday night. The officers said they seized 262 pounds of cocaine and a quantity of cash.

Two homes under surveillance in West Covina and Pomona were searched and 243 pounds of cocaine were found at the Pomona house, where a man and woman were arrested, authorities said. A man was arrested and three guns were seized at the West Covina house, authorities said.

The 505 pounds of cocaine has an estimated street value of $86 million, police said.

Agents from several federal agencies announced Friday the arrests of eight people to break up a separate ring that laundered drug money and distributed cocaine. Agents also seized $1 million in cash and 363 pounds of cocaine.

Edgar Adamson, special agent in charge of Customs Service in Los Angeles, said the arrests and seizures were made Tuesday night and Wednesday morning and raids were conducted at five locations in Torrance, Hawaiian Gardens and Cerritos.