Probe Nets $2 Million in Cocaine; 2 Men Jailed

A monthlong police investigation in Brea has culminated in the arrest of two Mexican nationals on suspicion of trying to sell 20 pounds of cocaine to undercover agents, authorities said Tuesday. Police estimated the street value of the cocaine at about $2 million.

The suspects, Rafael Pena, 42, and Charles Pantoja Gomez, 38, were arrested at about 7:30 Monday night at 3628 S. Main St. in Santa Ana. They were being held in Orange County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail each.

Police Lt. Jim Winder said the arrest was made by an undercover Brea officer who had been investigating the two men’s activities for a month, but neither suspect lived at the apartment and there was no one else there at the time of the arrest. He said investigators believe the two were using the address solely for drug operations.

“There’s where the buy went down,” Winder said. “Our officer was making the buy, and he was being assisted (in the investigation) by agents of the California Department of Justice.”

Pantoja Gomez gave his address as 1519 Towner St., Santa Ana, but Pena refused to say where he lived, police said.

Winder said the arresting officer also took three handguns from the apartment, but neither man resisted arrest.