By Jesse B. Gill
San Bernardino County Sun
SAN BERNARDINO — Police discovered about $3 million in black tar heroin Monday after a man and woman were arrested at the end of a two-hour standoff with a SWAT team, police say.
Now authorities are trying to determine if the two - Frank Javier Cardona, 33, of San Bernardino and Dulce Judith Valdez, 30, of Tijuana, have ties to any Mexican drug cartels, said Lt. Gwen Waters.
“This could go farther than just these two individuals,” she said.
Cardona and Valdez pleaded not guilty Wednesday to felony charges in San Bernardino Superior Court via video, said Chris Lee, spokesman for the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office.
The pair is due in court again Aug. 4 for a preliminary conference, Lee said.
When asked if Valdez could face extradition, Waters said, “she has some serious charges to face here before she would face extradition,” Waters said.
Police do not believe Cardona and Valdez are romantically attached, Waters said. The two did not appear to be more than acquaintances.
Investigators also are trying to determine if Valdez helped bring the heroin into Cardona’s home.
“She’s definitely being looked at for trafficking,” Waters said. “They’re being investigated for that.”
Prosecutors charged the pair Wednesday morning with possession of a controlled substance, heroin, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and obstructing a peace officer.
Cardona also faces charges of discharging a firearm with gross negligence. Police say the standoff began after neighbors reported Cardona firing a gun in his front yard.
Other charges could be filed against Cardona and Valdez when detectives find out where the drugs came from, Waters said.
Officers said they also found several ounces of methamphetamine and the handgun Cardona allegedly used outside his home.
Cardona was booked at Central Detention Center in San Bernardino on suspicion of negligent discharge of a firearm and possession of narcotics for sale. His bail is set at more than $2 million.
Valdez also was booked at Central Detention Center in San Bernardino on suspicion of possession of narcotics for sale. Her bail was set at $500,000.
San Bernardino SWAT officers arrest Frank Cardona, 33, after a standoff Monday. Police say they later found more than 76 pound of heroin in Cardona’s home, valued at about $3 million.
Copyright 2011 MediaNews Group, Inc.