Raids Net Drugs, Cash, 4 Suspects

Fullerton and Artesia police confiscated 150 pounds of cocaine worth about $22 million and arrested four people suspected of trying to sell it in raids ending Wednesday at three Los Angeles County residences.

Police also seized assault weapons and $250,000 in suspected drug cash at homes in Artesia, Bell and Paramount in the raids.

The police agencies had been following the suspected drug dealers in Fullerton early Tuesday during a separate drug investigation, Fullerton Police Capt. Lee DeVore said.

Most of the cocaine was discovered in the Artesia residence, as was the money and weapons, DeVore said. Police seized two AK-47 assault rifles and several semiautomatic handguns. Three of the four suspects were arrested at the Artesia residence. A fourth was detained at the Bell residence.

Booked into the Fullerton City Jail on suspicion of sale of cocaine were: Jorge Cano, 27, of Artesia; his wife, Maria, 21; Jose Lopez, 21, of Los Angeles, and Jose Heras, 28, of Bell. The four were each being held in lieu of $1-million bonds.