CDFW assists with execution of search warrant

KERN COUNTY – On July 2, 2025, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (KC-HIDTA), with assistance from the Rural Crimes Investigations Unit, Bakersfield Police Department Major Narcotics unit, and personnel from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, concluded a narcotics investigation with the execution of search warrant at a residence in the 700 blk of North Street in Taft.

During the investigation, Abraham Casarez, 21, from Sinaloa, Mexico, Jorge Castro-Medina,43, from Mexico City, Mexico, Emanuel Carmen, 40, from Mexico City, Mexico, and Julio Valencia-Hurtado, 38, from Mexico City, Mexico were located at the conversion lab and were subsequently arrested. Lauriano Castro, 45, from Mexico City, Mexico was located and arrested in 4900 block of South Union Avenue, Bakersfield. All five suspects were arrested for their suspected involvement in the conspiracy to operate the clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab.

Kern County Environmental Health and Taft City Code Compliance assisted in the investigation and conducted investigations respected to the dangerous chemicals/ hazards present at the conversion lab. This investigation resulted in the dismantling of a large-scale clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab/operation.

Abraham Casarez, Jorge Castro-Medina, Emanuel Carmen, Julio Valencia-Hurtado and Lauriano Castro were all booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Lerdo Justice Facility for the following charges: manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sales, maintaining a residence/place for drug sales and conspiracy to commit a crime.

The search warrant resulted in the seizure of approximately 242.4 pounds of methamphetamine and over 2,500 pounds of methamphetamine in solution, as well as the dismantlement of a large methamphetamine conversion lab in a residential home in Taft City.

“This type of investigation can be dangerous for law enforcement due to its criminal nature and hazardous materials.  We are thankful no one was hurt as the arrests were made and the clandestine meth conversion lab was dismantled,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona