3 Colombians Arrested, 11 Kilos of Cocaine Seized by Task Force

Police working for a South Bay narcotics task force seized 11 kilograms of cocaine and arrested three Colombian suspects Thursday after a two-week investigation.

El Segundo Police Capt. Tim Grimmond said an investigation paid handsome dividends when detectives working for the Westside Narcotics Enforcement Team were watching as two of the suspects met near Hawthorne Boulevard and 120th Street in Hawthorne.

Carlos Mendez, 40, of Torrance took a canvas bag from his car and gave it to Fernando Muniz, 32, of Pasadena, who then drove off with the bag in the trunk of his car, Grimmond said.

Some detectives followed Muniz, while others trailed Mendez’s car.

Muniz drove to Arcadia, where he apparently realized that he was being followed and suddenly tried to elude the detectives, Grimmond said. Officers stopped him in the parking lot of an Arcadia mall and seized five kilograms of cocaine, believed to have a street value of $500,000.

Mendez was followed to a restaurant area near Torrance and Hawthorne boulevards in Torrance. Detectives arrested him there shortly after he met with a third suspect, Marino Teran, 51, of Hawthorne.

Police found six kilograms of cocaine in their car, packed in boxes which originally contained toys. Grimmond said the cocaine would be worth about $600,000 on the street.

Muniz, Mendez and Teran pleaded not guilty at their arraignment Thursday in U.S. District Court on charges of criminal conspiracy, transportation of cocaine and possession of narcotics for distribution.

The men are being held in lieu of $2 million bail each.