10,000 pounds of illegal fireworks, marijuana products seized in Pasadena

PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- About 10,000 pounds of illegal fireworks are now off the streets, and the city of Pasadena is calling it one of the largest seizures of illegal fireworks in the city's history.

"We have to evaluate on its potential danger and I think that it's deadly," said Police Chief Eugene Harris.

The explosives were found Friday as Pasadena Fire Department arson investigators, Pasadena police and other agencies executed a search warrant at a marijuana dispensary on Whittier Boulevard near Garfield Avenue in the city of Los Angeles.

Investigators believe the fireworks were going to be sold and distributed across Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley.

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department's bomb squad was also called out after homemade explosives were found.

We've had incidents over the years where not just illegal fireworks but fireworks of individual design, people trying to make homemade fireworks, have become a problem and so we always have to be on the lookout for those. The characteristics of those create a lot of problems that may not be there for those that are commercially created."

In addition, Capt. Robert Ruiz, an arson investigator with Pasadena Fire said, "They made them themselves which opens it up to a whole other; the volatility, it just makes it more dangerous. The types of materials, the amounts so that's why we had to call in the bomb squad in order to transport, identify and handle those materials."

Chief Harris said a large amount marijuana products and an unregistered gun with high-capacity magazines were also found.

Four people were arrested in connection with the investigation. Police believe the suspects are part of a street gang that smuggles fireworks into the state from Nevada.

Harris said the fireworks have a resale value of up to $120,000.

Police remind folks all fireworks are illegal in the city of Pasadena.

Authorities said getting these fireworks off the streets is helping keep people safe ahead of July 4th celebrations.