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5 Arrested After Officials Seize 2.5 Tons Of Illegal Fireworks In Whittier

WHITTIER (CBSLA.com) — Five people were arrested Sunday night after officials discovered 2.5 tons of illegal fireworks at a commercial building in the 12000 block of Philadelphia Street, Whittier Police announced Tuesday.

Officers investigating an alarm sounding at the building near Whittier High School found a cache of illegal fireworks inside at around 7 p.m., police said.

Five people were detained at the scene.

Sergio Alvarez, 44; Alfred Henderson, 58; John Belden, 55; Quiroz Aneli, 24, and Adrianna Beltran, 28, were all taken into custody and booked on suspicion of possession of explosive material near a theater, hall, school, college, church, hotel, or other public building.

The suspects are being held on $500,000 bail.

The bust was one of the largest seizures of illegal fireworks this year. According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the street value of the fireworks was estimated to be about $100,000.

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