53 pounds of meth worth $2.6M seized in Ontario bust; 5 arrested

ONTARIO, Calif. (KABC) -- Agents arrested five men and seized 53 pounds of methamphetamine during a major undercover drug bust in Ontario.

The meth has an estimated street value of $2.6 million, authorities said.

The men were arrested after trying to sell the drugs to undercover officers. The operation took place at the parking lot of a Hooters restaurant located in the 700 block of N. Milliken Avenue.

Investigators said the suspects may be associated with the Sinaloa Cartel based out of Mexico with drug distribution cells in Southern California.

The arrested individuals were identified as Benjamin Machado Morales, Heriberto Coronado Martin, Eric Villareal Aguilar, Eduardo E. Ruano Alvarez and Hector E. Marroquin.

All of the suspects were booked into the San Bernardino West County Detention Center pending the filing of charges for the transportation and sales of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine for sales and conspiracy.

The sting was conducted by the California Department of Justice (CA DOJ), Inland Crackdown Allied Task Force (INCA) and the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force (LA IMPACT).