Pubdate: Thu, 01 Jun 2000
Source: Bakersfield Californian (CA)
Copyright: 2000, The Bakersfield Californian.
Contact:  PO Box 440, Bakersfield, CA 93302-0440
Website: http://www.bakersfield.com/
Author: Kerry Cavanaugh, Californian staff writer, AUTHORITIES RAID METH 'SUPERLABS'

Federal and local law enforcement agencies said they crippled a long-time 
central valley methamphetamine production organization with 23 arrests 
Wednesday.

An 18-month investigation centered on an organization authorities called 
the Medrano family.

Officers in the multi-agency task force served 30 search warrants. Eight 
children were taken into protective custody.

Among the 23 people arrested for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 
methamphetamine were brothers Xavier, Javier and Ernesto Medrano, all of 
Delano.

Sheriff's Cmdr. Hal Chealander said the brothers are believed to be the 
second generation of the drug operation started by their father.

The arrests were aimed at the ring leaders and mid-level people in the 
operation, not the street dealers, Chealander said. He figures the task 
force trimmed this particular drug operation by half.

Authorities blame the organization for the distribution of methamphetamine 
in northern Kern County and Tulare County and several drug-related drive-by 
shootings over the years.

Officers discovered four "superlabs" in northern Kern and southern Tulare 
counties that were capable of producing more than 10 pounds of 
methamphetamine at one time.

Approximately 16 pounds of methamphetamine, 100 pounds of red phosphorus, 
and 60 pounds of freon were seized, along with $103,000 in cash, seven 
vehicles and 35 firearms.

Of the 23 suspects arrested Wednesday, 11 will be prosecuted by the U.S. 
Attorney's office. District attorneys in Kern and Tulare counties intend to 
prosecute the remaining 12.

The ring leaders will most likely be prosecuted in federal court because 
the penalties are stronger, according to Kern County District Attorney Ed 
Jagels.

Federal penalties for possession of 50 grams of pure methamphetamine or 500 
grams of mixed methamphetamine can bring 10 years to life, said Kathy 
Servatus, an assistant U.S. Attorney.

The investigation was conducted by a task force created to address high 
levels of drug production in the San Joaquin Valley.

FBI officials called the southern San Joaquin Valley a national source for 
methamphetamine.

Agencies participating in Wednesday's action included the Federal Bureau of 
Investigations, Kern County Sheriff's Department, Kern County District 
Attorney's Office, Bakersfield Police Department, Kern County Probation 
Department, Kern County Fire Department Arson Unit, California Highway 
Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and 
Firearms, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, California Department of Motor 
Vehicles, Fresno High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Fresno County 
Sheriff's Department, Delano Police Department, Kings County Sheriff's 
Department, Tulare County Sheriff's Department and the Porterville Police 
Department.
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