Merced Sun-Star
DELHI -- A methamphetamine "super-lab" was uncovered by state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement agents on Thursday, tied to last month's arrest of a man suspected of running the operation.
The lab was discovered inside a single-family residence at 17497 Letteau Ave. at 9 a.m. where agents from the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement's Sacramento office conducted a search warrant, finding equipment, heating mantles, chemicals and glassware, according to Ben Buford, the bureau's special agent in charge.
Buford said he couldn't give an estimate about the dollar amount of meth or equipment found Thursday. Based on the amount of chemical waste at the site, however, Buford said at least 100 pounds of meth has been produced at the site.
A meth "super-lab" is an operation that can produce seven to 10 pounds of meth or more per cooking cycle, Buford said.
Buford said the total amount of meth produced at the site would likely have a street value of $2.5 million -- although investigators do not know how long Alvarez was running the operation. "Based upon the waste, they have cooked there several times," Buford said.
The bust unfolded after Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement agents arrested 35-year-old Jorge Alvarez in August. Investigators suspect that Alvarez was running the meth operation at the home. He was arrested on Aug. 25 after selling four pounds of meth to undercover agents, Buford said.
Alvarez remains at the Stanislaus County Jail on charges of meth possession and sales, Buford said. Buford said agents have also arrested four other individuals connected to Alvarez.
During Thursday's bust, agents arrested Alvarez's wife, 40-year-old Ana Alvarez, on suspicion of manufacturing meth. Buford said the suspect's wife arrived at the house while agents were conducting the search warrant.
The bust was conducted with assistance from the Merced County Multi-Agency Task Force, the Merced County Sheriff's Department and agents from Central Valley HIDTA, Buford said.
Sheriff Mark Pazin said Merced County has reported nearly 100 meth lab-related incidents this year. "This latest drug bust is evidence that the methamphetamine drug trade is alive and well," Pazin said.
Buford said the suspects may also face child endangerment charges because four children, ages 4 to 14, were living inside the home.
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
