About $3 million worth of cocaine, drugs seized in Gwinnett

LAWRENCEVILLE - Federal drug agents seized about $3 million worth of cocaine and methamphetamines following a raid at a Gwinnett County home. Six suspects were in custody Thursday, officials said. <br> <br> The Lawrenceville home, just east of I-85 and Steve Reynolds Boulevard, was raided by the Drug Enforcement Agency and Gwinnett police on Wednesday. Officials found 172 pounds of cocaine, 7 pounds of methamphetamine, two semiautomatic pistols and $15,000 in cash. <br> <br> DEA Special Agent John Andrejko said the raid was part of a significant drug trafficking operation believed to be from Mexico, the Gwinnett Daily Post reported Friday. <br> <br> ``We are very concerned with the changing role in Atlanta,&#39;&#39; Andrejko said. ``There are absolutely major command and control drug cells operating in Atlanta,&#39;&#39; which includes Gwinnett. <br> <br> Arrested were: Elias Moreno and Daniel Cerventes Castillo, both of the North Fork Court residence; Erika Helga Rodriquez, of Lawrenceville; Raul Gonzalez, of Acworth; and Daniel Hernandez, of Watsonville, Calif. They face charges on drug possession and conspiracy to distribute. <br> <br> Another man, Bernardo Barriga Vargas, of Yakima, Wash., was arrested and charged with burglary after he was found hiding under a neighbor&#39;s porch. <br> <br> The suspects appeared in court Thursday and remain in custody. More arrests were expected, officials said. <br> <br> Andrejko said the Lawrenceville drug raid stemmed from a traffic stop Tuesday in Tennessee when a state trooper spotted a Toyota pickup speeding on Interstate 40 near Memphis. The trooper found more than 100 pounds of cocaine hidden in the truck. <br> <br> Investigators determined the vehicle was headed to the Lawrenceville home.