A late-night DEA raid in La Puente that was supposed to be about drugs and guns took an explosive turn when agents found a sizable stash of illegal fireworks stuffed inside a home, officials said.
The search began at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday in the 700 block of Del Valle Avenue and was initially centered on narcotics and firearms. It was not immediately clear whether anyone was arrested, and federal agents stayed at the scene as they worked out how to get the pyrotechnics out safely.
DEA Operation Uncovers Pyrotechnics
According to ABC7 Los Angeles, a DEA sergeant said agents were serving a search warrant for drugs and firearms when they unexpectedly came across a significant quantity of fireworks inside the residence. ABC7 Los Angeles reported that investigators cleared out the drugs and weapons and then shifted their attention to dealing with the fireworks stockpile.
Officials Say No Evacuation Was Necessary
As reported by ABC7 Los Angeles, agents seized "multiple amounts of drugs" and discovered several boxes of fireworks during the sweep. Investigators said there was no immediate threat to neighbors and decided that no evacuation was needed.
County Law Forbids Most Fireworks
Per the Los Angeles County Fire Department, it is illegal in unincorporated parts of the county to store, manufacture, sell, use, or handle any type of fireworks without a valid permit. The department notes that violations can bring fines or even jail time and urges residents to stick with professional shows instead of lighting off consumer-grade fireworks at home.
Recent Hauls Underscore the Risk
The La Puente discovery lands on the heels of other major fireworks busts in the region. The Los Angeles Times reported that truckloads of illegal pyrotechnics were found in South L.A. last month, which triggered evacuations and a bomb-squad response. Officials point to earlier mishaps, including a 2021 detonation that damaged homes, when explaining why they treat large caches as serious public-safety hazards rather than just neighborhood nuisances.
How Officials Will Handle the Cache
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Industry Station is working with the DEA to determine a safe way to remove the fireworks, NBC Los Angeles reported. That process may involve bomb-squad style procedures or help from state fire authorities, and investigators continued processing evidence at the home while those plans were finalized.
Legal Outlook
Possessing dangerous or altered fireworks can be charged as a misdemeanor under state law, with penalties that vary based on how much is involved, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Because the search warrant was tied to drugs and firearms, any potential criminal case could also include federal counts if prosecutors choose to pursue them, as noted by ABC7 Los Angeles.
What We Know Now
Officials have not yet released more detailed information about how many fireworks or what quantities of drugs were recovered. Local outlets report that investigators remain at the scene as authorities coordinate the safe removal of the pyrotechnics, and officials have not said whether any charges have been filed.
