“Meth conversion labs pose a danger to communities and to law enforcement and first responders. Seizing this amount of meth, as well as the 14 firearms, improves public safety considerably. Thank you to all involved in this investigation and the dismantling process.”
– CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
KERN COUNTY – On September 19, 2025, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office announced the results of several search warrants served in Kern County the previous day. The search warrants resulted in the seizure of:
- approximately 252.2 pounds of methamphetamine,
- an additional 100 gallons of methamphetamine in solution,
- 14 firearms, and
- a large amount of U.S currency believed to be derived from narcotics sales.
Two suspects were arrested and a methamphetamine conversion lab at a residential farm home in the Central Valley was dismantled.
On September 18, 2025, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (KC-HIDTA), California Department of Justice, High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT) and personnel from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office concluded a narcotics investigation with the execution of search warrants at the suspects’ residence and a clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab in the 16000 and 19000 blk of W. Jensen Avenue, Kerman.
During the investigation, search warrants were obtained for residential farmhouses west of Kerman where it was believed a clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab was being operated. Jose Beltran-Rojas, 21, of Sinaloa, Mexico and Alfredo Duenas, 49, were located at each residence and subsequently arrested for their alleged involvement in the operation of the clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab and the possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of sales.
KC-HIDTA and HIIT lab personnel along with personnel from the California Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Science processed the residence with respect to the dangerous chemicals and hazards present at the conversion lab. This investigation resulted in the dismantling of a large-scale clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab/operation.
Jose Beltran-Rojas and Alfredo Duenas were booked into the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office jail 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.
Alfredo Duenas was also charged with possession of firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm while being in possession of a controlled substance.
