Millions in Cash Seized, 4 Arrested in Sylmar Raid

In what is believed to be one of the largest seizures of its kind in the nation’s history, law officers confiscated millions of dollars in alleged drug-related money in a raid on a house in Sylmar, authorities said Wednesday.

El Segundo Police Officer Harold Jeffers said the total seizure could top $20 million.

Three men and one woman, whose names were not released, were arrested Tuesday night in the raid, conducted by a task force of officers from several jurisdictions after a daylong stakeout in the quiet residential neighborhood. They were booked on suspicion of money laundering. Bail for each was set at $5 million, police said.

Officials declined to disclose further details of the seizure, citing concern for the safety of officers who were conducting other raids Wednesday night.

“Other locations are still being investigated,” Jeffers said.

Two of the arrested men, who told neighbors they were brothers, moved into the house of tan stucco and red brick in the 13800 block of Kinbrook Street less than two months ago, said a neighbor who asked not to be identified. Officers told residents that the two men had been under investigation by members of the West Side Narcotics Enforcement Team for six to eight months, the neighbor said, adding that he watched for several hours as officers carried out more than a dozen boxes and transparent plastic bags filled with money.

He saw $100 bills in the bags, he said.

Although police said they believe the money is tied to a drug ring, Jeffers said only a small amount of unidentified drugs was found in the house.

“Whether these people were selling is unknown at this time,” the officer said.

A resident of the house said he owned check-cashing businesses in Canoga Park and North Hollywood and mostly worked at night, the neighbor said.

Lonnie Johnson, who lives across the street from the raided house, said the men stood out because “they were coming and going at all hours of the night.

“A couple of times a motorcycle would disturb me, but I didn’t know what was going on,” Johnson said. “I never saw any women or children going in there.”

Residents of the well-kept neighborhood, said they were surprised at the arrest.

“We’ve never had any problems before,” said Marge Menin, who has lived in the neighborhood for 18 years. “But this can happen anywhere. This could happen in Beverly Hills.”

Authorities scheduled a press conference for today at the U.S. Customs facility on Terminal Island to reveal details of the seizure.

Since its formation about 18 months ago, the narcotics enforcement team has seized more than $3.5 million in cash and more than a ton of cocaine, and has arrested 57 suspected drug traffickers, officials said.

The task force consists of officers from 11 law enforcement agencies--the seven South Bay police departments, the Santa Monica Police Department, the UCLA campus police, the county Sheriff’s Department and the Signal Hill Police Department.

Times staff writer Aaron Curtiss contributed to this story