$500K in marijuana, 27 weapons seized in LAPD drug bust

MOUNT WASHINGTON, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles police seized half a million dollars worth of marijuana and more than two dozen weapons during a major drug bust.

The Thursday morning bust involved a total of three locations, including a home in Mount Washington. That's where police found the massive weapons cache after a month-long undercover investigation.

"The amount of firearms, the amount of magazines, loaded magazines and the ammunition - it's the largest I've seen in a very long time," said Sgt. James Zboravan with the Los Angeles Police Department.

In all, police found 1,300 marijuana plants worth $500,000, 27 weapons and two brothers running a major marijuana operation that detectives say had been in business at least five years.

"It was absolutely illicit street sales, and the investigation is ongoing, and possibly sales to legal marijuana facilities," said LAPD Capt. Rick Stabile.

In addition to all the weapons, authorities said the home in Mount Washington was fortified top to bottom.

The home's exterior had a padlocked gate, security cameras and pit bulls. Inside the home, there was a loaded AK-47 with a drum magazine propped by the door, a World War II machine gun known as Hitler's buzz saw and two gold-plated handguns.

Many of the weapons were loaded and ready to go, with extra ammunition close at hand.

"Thirteen-hundred plants, three locations, and most significantly, the caliber and the weapons that these men were armed with, to have those off the streets is undoubtedly going to save lives," Stabile said.

The two brothers, identified as Manuel and Livio Scagliotti, and their illegal stash are now off the streets in this major bust.