El Cajon

Eight men were arrested Tuesday in El Cajon on suspicion of selling more than $250,000 worth of methamphetamine after a two-month investigation by San Diego police, a spokesman said.

Officers with a search warrant found 10 pounds of methamphetamine cooking in a house in the 8900 block of El Dorado Parkway about 2:30 p.m., spokesman Bill Robinson said. Police confiscated 5 1/2 more pounds of methamphetamine, 30 pounds of other chemicals capable of producing 100 pounds of narcotics, $18,000, two rifles, one handgun and two stolen vehicles, he said.

Arrested at the scene was the alleged leader of the drug ring, Jeffrey L. Kroening, 33, of Spring Valley, who along with Marvin Evans, 26, of El Cajon, is being held at County Jail downtown on $1 million bail each pending a Monday arraignment, a jail clerk said.

Held on $5,000 bail each were Alex Varaksa, 21; Eric Brennan, 19; Jerry Miller, 26, and Russell Taylor, 33, all of El Cajon; Richard Hall, 33, of San Diego and Daniel Bailey, 36, of Santee, the clerk said.

All were arrested on suspicion of manufacturing controlled substances, possession of drugs with intention of selling, and transporting narcotics, the clerk said.