$1 Million Seized in Brea Apartment During Drug Investigation

Police raided a Brea apartment this week and seized $1 million in cash they believe was being used in a drug-money-laundering operation. Three Colombian nationals were questioned but not taken into custody.

The apartment, in the 100 block of Olinda Place, had been under surveillance for nearly a month after officers received a tip that it was part of a narcotics trafficking and money-laundering operation, Detective Sgt. Mike Messina said.

Detectives also seized a currency counter and ledgers that Messina said indicated an extensive money-laundering operation with ties to Sacramento and Miami. However, no drugs were discovered.

The three Colombian nationals--a 23-year-old man who was renting the apartment, a 45-year-old Garden Grove man and a 24-year-old La Verne woman--were leaving the apartment when officers detained them, Messina said.

“They denied knowing who the money belonged to, so we took possession of it,” Police Capt. Jim Oman said. “We are going to allege that it is part of drug trafficking.”

The three were not charged because it it not a crime to have a large amount of cash, Oman said. “At the same time, it is highly suspicious.”

Oman said that when police come upon large amounts of money during drug investigations, it is rare that anyone comes forward to claim it because they would have to explain how they got it.

“It’s like their price of doing business. . . . It’s overhead,” Oman said.

Detectives said the investigation would continue.