FARGO (AP) - Police say they seized about 4 pounds of methamphetamine, the largest amount ever seized in the area, and arrested two men as a result of a tip.

Timothy Phelps, 22, of West Fargo and Bernardo Retana-Herrera, 21, of Corinth, Texas were arrested earlier this week, police said. Both men pleaded not guilty to drug conspiracy charges Thursday before East Central District Judge Steven McCullough, who set bail at $250,000 each, court records show.

Police said the meth was seized after a search of Phelps' West Fargo apartment and a Fargo motel room. They believe it might have come from what narcotics agents call a "super lab" in southern California or the Pacific Northwest.

"To be able to take this much methamphetamine off the streets of our communities is going to put a major dent into the drug trafficking crowd," Police Chief Keith Ternes said at a news conference Friday.

"This 4-pound seizure, to my knowledge, is the largest seizure in our immediate area, in the metro area, and ranks right up there, in the top range, of ones seized in the state of North Dakota," Sgt. Pat Claus said. The drugs, if sold on the street now, would be worth about $360,000, he said.

Both men face charges of conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia, court officials said. Phelps also was charged with possession with intent to distribute meth.

The investigation involved city, county, state and federal officials.

Claus said that after spending nearly half his career in narcotics enforcement, he has found that, "some of our biggest cases - almost all result from some kind of citizen's tip on the front end and some hard work by investigators on the back end."