POLICE BAG $250,000 IN POT

Three Southern California men were arrested Tuesday after they delivered
more than 300 pounds of marijuana -- worth more than $250,000 -- to
undercover narcotics officers, Fresno police reported.

Sgt. Terry O'Neil of the Fresno police narcotics unit said the arrests were
the result of a one-week investigation during which undercover officers
purchased "a sample" 18 pounds of marijuana Sunday for $6,000 from the same
suspects before making a deal for a larger purchase.

O'Neil said undercover officers agreed to pay $130,000 for 300 pounds of
marijuana and that the suspects agreed to deliver the pot Tuesday morning
at a parking lot at Freeway 99 and Jensen Avenue.

Sgt. Alex Flores said that after displaying the marijuana, which was
packaged in about 10-pound "bricks" and loaded in the trunk of the
suspects' car, the suspects agreed to complete the transaction at the rear
of a building at Chestnut and McKinley avenues, where the arrests were made.

Flores said the marijuana weighed 327 pounds and estimated its street value
at more than $250,000.

Detective Howard Tello said a loaded .45-caliber pistol was found on one of
the suspects.

Tello said the marijuana is believed to have been smuggled into this
country from Mexico and that the suspects indicated they had access to a
lot more. "They said they could deliver as much as a ton on a regular basis."

Taken into custody, all from Los Angeles County, were Samuel Perez
Gonzalez, 21, and Xavier Garcia Palofox, 20, both of Pacoima; and Fidel
Jaime Hernandez, 23, of Northridge.

All were booked on suspicion of possession of marijuana, transporting
marijuana for sale, sale of marijuana, conspiracy and possession of a
firearm in commission of a felony and possession of stolen property.