Local News in Brief : $93 Million in Drugs Seized; 3 Arrested
Authorities arrested three people in Pomona on Thursday and seized 311 kilograms of cocaine worth about $93 million, two guns and $160,000 in cash.
Brea police, Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Customs Service investigators were tipped about a potential large drug deal and began surveillance Wednesday evening at a motel in West Covina, Sheriff’s Sgt. Bryan Williams said.
The investigators then followed two suspects Thursday to the B & M Construction Co. in Pomona, where the owner of the firm, Benjamin Gutierrez, 36, and Urcino Rojas, 23, consented to a search, Williams said. The cocaine, an AK-47 assault rifle and a .38-caliber revolver were found, he said.
Carlos Soto, 28, who was seen leaving the company, was arrested down the street, Williams said, and a .45-caliber pistol and about $160,000 were found on him.
The three men were arrested on suspicion of possession, sales and conspiracy to distribute cocaine and held on $1-million bail.
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