$7.4 Million in Cocaine Seized
An investigation of Cali drug cartel operations resulted in three arrests and the seizure in Van Nuys of 169 pounds of cocaine valued at $7.4 million, Torrance police said Friday.
The men, who were identified only as being from Cali, Colombia, were arrested Thursday night after detectives observed an exchange of heavy packages in a supermarket parking lot, police said.
Torrance police declined to give the location in Van Nuys. Suspects’ names were also withheld pending action on additional search warrants, Lt. Steve Gilliam said. The men were held in lieu of $5-million bail each.
The case will probably be taken to court in Los Angeles on Monday, Gilliam said.
The arrests stemmed from an investigation of cocaine trafficking by the Cali cartel in the South Bay that has been under way since February, 1989, Gilliam said.
Torrance police have seized more than 1,000 pounds of cocaine and $5.9 million in currency, and arrested 63 people for investigation of trafficking, Gilliam said.
The South Bay faction of the cartel is responsible for a “significant” amount of cocaine used in the area and also transships large amounts of cocaine throughout the United States, Gilliam said.
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