Police Raid Nets Drugs, $60,000 Cash

Police recovered $60,000 in cash and more than three pounds of methamphetamine in a raid at a Westminster home, authorities said Wednesday.

Aramis Wong, 24, and Adriana Upchurch, 27, were arrested in the 15700 block of Las Nubes Drive this week after sheriff deputies with a search warrant found methamphetamine, chemicals to make the drug, seven handguns, two shotguns and one rifle, sheriff’s Lt. Tom Garner said.

An undercover investigation led deputies to the couple, who had been running a drug operation complete with a video security system and a methamphetamine lab, Garner said.

Wong was alerted by the security system when deputies arrived and ran out the back door, police said. But after a short chase, he was arrested with a metal safe stuffed with cash, they said.

“It’s not uncommon to find that much money in this type of an operation,” Garner said. “See, these people are on the horns of a dilemma. They can’t deposit all the money in the bank because that would leave a trail. So they hang on to it, and with all that money, they need the guns to protect it.”

Wong and Upchurch were held at Orange County Jail on suspicion of possession and manufacturing of methamphetamine and possession of firearms. Bail is set at $500,000 each.