5 Suspects Arrested in Meth Conversion Lab - Taft, CA
July 4, 2025 – Kern County Sheriff's Office officials report the search warrant results in the seizure of approximately 242.4 pounds of methamphetamine and over 2,500 pounds of methamphetamine in solution, the dismantlement of a large methamphetamine conversion lab in a residential home in Taft City and the arrest of five (5) suspects.
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, Taft.
During the investigation, Abraham Casarez, (age 21) from Sinaloa, Mexico, Jorge Castro-Medina (age 43), from Mexico City, Mexico, Emanuel Carmen (age 40) from Mexico City, Mexico, and Julio Valencia-Hurtado (age 38) from Mexico City, Mexico were located at the conversion lab and were subsequently arrested. Lauriano Castro (Age 45) from Mexico City, Mexico was located and arrested in 4900 block of South Union Avenue, Bakersfield. All five suspects were arrested for their 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.
Source & photos: Kern County Sheriff's Office
