5 Held in Heist of 198 Pounds of Cocaine

Los Angeles police officers, acting on a tip, arrested five men Sunday after they allegedly stole nearly 200 pounds of cocaine, likely worth between $4 million and $7 million, authorities said.

The five suspects, whose names were not released, are expected to be charged with various drug and conspiracy charges. The arrests took place after police received a detailed tip indicating that a theft or robbery of narcotics was planned for 1:30 p.m. at a commercial building in the 2500 block of Santa Fe Street in Vernon, said LAPD Officer Grace Brady.

LAPD narcotics officers and a SWAT team, as well as officers from the Vernon Police Department, staked out the unoccupied building, Brady said, and watched as five men entered. Officers arrested the men when they left the building, allegedly carrying 90 kilograms (about 198 pounds) of cocaine, she said.