OCEANSIDE : 2 Are Indicted in Cocaine Seizure

Two men were indicted by a federal grand jury after authorities seized nearly 90 kilograms of cocaine at a home rented by one of the men, authorities said Thursday.

Guillermo Soloranzo Barba, 38, of Oceanside and Roberto Tapia-Chavero, 46, of Morales, Mexico, were both present when U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized three large duffel bags of cocaine from a bedroom closet in the Oceanside house rented by Barba, Assistant U.S. Atty. Randy K. Jones said. DEA agents said they also found an undisclosed amount of cocaine in Tapia’s clothing during the raid, which took place Feb. 27.

The men were arraigned on charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute and possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, Jones said. Both are being held at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego.

A kilogram of cocaine has a street value of $16,000 to $20,000, depending on its purity, Jones said. If convicted, the two men each face a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $4 million fine.