July 7, 2023 - Kern County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on July 5, 2023, the Sheriff’s Office, Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (KC-HIDTA) and California Highway Patrol concluded a lengthy narcotics investigation with a traffic stop and the execution of a search warrant at a suspect clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab in the 1700 block of E. Fresno Avenue, Shafter area. The investigation resulted in the seizure of approximately 360 pounds of methamphetamine and the arrest of six (6) adult males.
During the investigation, a K-9 officer from the California Highway Patrol, conducted a traffic stop on a 2014 Honda Accord in the area of White Lane and Wible Road, Bakersfield, Ca. The driver, LUIS CECENA, (age 32) of Mexico City, Mexico and the passenger, LUIS MORENO-ANDRADE (age 18) of Mexico City, Mexico were found to be the occupants of the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 94 pounds of methamphetamine packaged and concealed in the trunk compartment of the vehicle. CECENA and ANDRADE were arrested and booked into the Kern County Jail for numerous narcotics related charges.
Throughout the investigation, a search warrant was obtained for a property in the 1700 block of E. Fresno Avenue, Shafter, where it was believed a clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab was being operated. Members of the California Highway Patrol, agents from DEA-Bakersfield/ Bakersfield Police Department, Task Force Officers (TFO’s), detectives from Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crimes Investigative Unit (RCIU) and officers from Kern County Probation Department assisted the KC-HIDTA Task Force in the execution of the search warrant. JOSE AGUIRRE-CHAIDEZ, (age 22) of Sinaloa, Mexico, FELIPE ANGULO-RENTERIA, (age 36) of Mexico City, Mexico, Jose Violante-Medina, (age 44) of Mexico City, Mexico, and Ronald Cain, (age 50) of Bakersfield were located at the residence/ conversion lab and were subsequently arrested for their involvement in the operation of the clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab.
KC-HIDTA, Kern County Fire Department and members from Kern County Environmental Health assessed the hazards of the methamphetamine conversion lab. KC-HIDTA processing the property for evidence while dismantling the conversion lab. Detectives located and seized an additional 40 pounds of finished crystal methamphetamine and approximately 226 pounds of methamphetamine currently in a meth/ liquid solution state.
This investigation resulted in the dismantling of a large-scale clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab/operation and was the result of a lengthy and collaborative investigation conducted by investigators of the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, KC-HIDTA Task Force, and the California Highway Patrol.
Shafter County Code Compliance responded and during their investigation found numerous building code violations. Based on the violations, the structure was deemed unsafe for occupancy and posted by Shafter County Code Compliance.
JOSE AGUIRRE-CHAIDEZ, FELIPE ANGULO-RENTERIA, JOSE VIOLANTE-MEDINA and RONALD CAIN were booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Central Receiving Facility jail for the following charges: manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sales, maintaining a residence for drug sales and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Source & photos: Kern County Sheriff’s Office
