SIMI VALLEY : 5 Held on Suspicion of Selling Cocaine

Narcotics agents arrested five people suspected of participating in a cocaine delivery service in Simi Valley and Los Angeles, authorities said Friday.

Detectives also seized more than 2 pounds of cocaine, which they estimated is worth $102,000, plus $5,700 in cash and a .30-caliber assault rifle Thursday evening during searches of three residences in Simi Valley and two in Los Angeles, Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Gary Pentis said.

Customers of the delivery service allegedly called a number in the 818 area code to place orders, authorities said. Runners based at a Simi Valley location then delivered the drugs to the customers and took the money to another place in Simi Valley, authorities said.

Arrested were Antonio Velazquez, 25, of Simi Valley; Juana Ramirez, 22, of Simi Valley; Placido Jimenez, 20, of Van Nuys; Jose Pelayo, 22, of Simi Valley; and Alma Sandoval, 27, of Van Nuys, Pentis said.

They were booked into the Ventura County Jail with bail set at $20,000 each, Pentis said.

They were arrested on suspicion of selling cocaine, suspicion of possessing cocaine for sale and suspicion of conspiracy to sell cocaine, Pentis said.

Participating in the investigation were the Sheriff’s Department, the Simi Valley and Santa Paula police departments, the district attorney’s office and the California Highway Patrol, he said.