$35 million of cocaine seized in massive SoCal drug bust

SANTA FE SPRINGS, Calif. (KABC) -- Four men and two women were arrested after authorities conducted a massive drug bust in Santa Fe Springs and San Bernardino, seizing cocaine with a street value of more than $35 million.

Surveillance on the drug operation began last month, but it wasn't until Tuesday that authorities arrested three people in San Bernardino with 55 kilograms of cocaine in their car.

Those arrests linked authorities to a home Wednesday in the 11400 block of Charlesworth Road in Santa Fe Springs, where about 255 kilograms of cocaine were found in the garage and three others were arrested.

"This is one of the larger busts in recent history," said David King, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional police force focused on narcotics and weapons.

In total, the drugs are worth $8.2 million wholesale and $35 million on the street, King said.

The drugs belonged to the Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and was destined to end up all over the country, King said.

Next door, neighbors couldn't believe what they were seeing.

"I'm in shock, because I have two children. The school's around the corner. I can't believe it! I can't. I don't know what to do, sell my house? I'm in shock," neighbor Robert Incelli said.

Three young children were also found in the house and taken by child services.

"A lot of times they just try to come in and blend in with the community and maintain a low profile. But these individuals are feeding a cycle of violence across the country and we're happy to take this cell out of it," King said.