10 DRUG CARTEL SUSPECTS ARRESTED.

Byline: David Greenberg  Staff Writer

A yearlong multi-agency investigation has culminated in the arrests of 10 persons believed to be members of a Tijuana drug cartel that is suspected of financing the $200 million in cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana that authorities have seized since last summer, officials said Thursday.

During searches of homes, most in the San Fernando Valley and Oxnard, authorities seized 50 assault rifles, handguns with silencers and other guns, $85,000 in cash and nine vehicles, a Ventura County Sheriff's Department spokesman said. Six suspects were arrested Wednesday and four others were arrested previously.

``In terms of the overall effect, I would say this is one of the biggest drug busts we've had in the county,'' Ventura County sheriff's spokesman Eric Nishimoto said. ``This is the first time we've been able to make arrests of people financing the operation - the people who are high up in the drug cartel. And we expect more arrests. Up until now, our operation has been finding pot plants in the (Los Padres) National Forest and destroying the product.''

Arrested Wednesday were: Benningo Gordillo, 35, of Northridge; Felipe Hernandez, 38, and Oscar Castillo, 29, both of Oxnard; Miguel Rangel, 46, of Palmdale; Pedro Sanchez, 48, of Lake View Terrace; and Ponciano Beccera, 33, of Lebec.

Arrested on Sept. 28 were: Jose Raul Rodriguez, 37, of Van Nuys; Rogelio Robledo, 48, of Sylmar; Eduardo Gutierrez, 44, of Fontana; and Camilos Gutierrez, 33 of Michigan.

Authorities said all are Mexican nationals, living in the United States legally.

They remain in Ventura County Jail without bail on suspicion of felony conspiracy and distribution and would face a minimum of 10 years in federal prison if convicted, authorities said.