A Southern California Hooters parking lot became the scene of an undercover drug bust involving alleged associates of a Mexican drug cartel, authorities said.

Five men with ties to the Sinaloa cartel were arrested Thursday when they showed up to the Ontario restaurant at 725 N. Milliken Ave. with 53 pounds of methamphetamine to meet undercover officers, the California Department of Justice said.

Authorities released photos of the more than 40 bags of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $2.6 million.

The men — Benjamin Machado-Morales, Heriberto Coronado-Martin, Eric Villareal-Aguilar, Eduardo Ruano-Alvarez and Hector Marroquin — face charges of transportation of methamphetamine, possession for sales of methamphetamine and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Villareal-Aguilar also faces a charge of child endangerment.