Police Seize Drugs, Arrest 8 People in Corona

Police seized a “smorgasbord” of drugs and arrested eight people Wednesday on a variety of charges in a raid on a central Corona apartment, authorities said.

Corona Police Lt. Fred Biggs said detectives confiscated at least $12,000 worth of drugs in the raid--including methamphetamines, marijuana, Quaaludes, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, Valium, phenobarbital and Percodan.

Biggs, commander of the detective division, said Thursday that the arrests were the result of an undercover investigation focusing on the apartment on South Grant Avenue.

“We had received some information,” Biggs said, “that . . . they had kind of a smorgasbord layout--any kind of drugs that you wanted.”

Undercover officers purchased drugs at the apartment, then returned Wednesday with a search warrant, he said.

“When the guys arrived at the door with a warrant, the door was not closed,” Biggs said. “They walked in and grabbed a couple of people on the lower floor (of the apartment). They went upstairs and found four people at the table, splitting up 5 ounces of methamphetamine.

“Instead of getting there 35 seconds late, like we usually do, we got there right on time and got them all.”

The seizure included 100 Quaaludes, 150 Valium tablets, 100 doses of LSD, 60 phenobarbital tablets; also two handguns, a .22-caliber automatic pistol and a .357 magnum, Biggs said.

A resident of the apartment and seven others--from Corona, Norco, Riverside, Mira Loma and Redlands--were arrested on a combination of charges that included suspicion of possessing drugs, drug paraphernalia, drugs for sale, a loaded firearm and prescription drugs without a prescription, Biggs said.

All eight were being held in lieu of $25,000 bail each at Riverside County Jail.

“I think it was a very significant arrest, in that it uncovered some people who were obviously distributing drugs in the community,” Biggs said.