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Thursday, Jul. 02, 2009

Task force finds drugs, $220,000 in cash in Livingston home

LIVINGSTON -- A mother and her two daughters were arrested on drug possession charges Wednesday after agents with the Merced Multi-Agency Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant at a home off Winton Parkway in Livingston.

The bust yielded about a pound of crystal methamphetamine, two handguns, ammunition and about $220,000 in cash, according to Cmdr. Neil Compston. Agents from the narcotics task force, with assistance from the Merced Multi-Agency Gang Task Force, served the warrant at 1629 Bay Meadow Lane around 9:45 a.m.

Heba Hurena, 23, and Elisa Hurena, 27, at the scene. Compston said Elisa Hurena told agents the cash belonged to her, although the suspects gave no other comments to investigators.

The residence is the same house where Livingston police responded to a reported home invasion robbery on June 19. During that incident, several robbers entered the home and tied up two of the victims, according to reports.

Livingston police officers who arrived at the scene, after the home invasion, had suspicions about illegal activity at the house, Compston said, and the narcotics task force was notified.

The suspects concealed the methamphetamine, which had a street value between $20,000 and $23,000, in a "Cinnamon Toast Crunch" cereal box in the kitchen, while a substantial amount of cash was hidden in the floorboard of a white Acura parked in the garage of the residence, according to agents.

The women also had high-capacity magazines similar to the ammunition used by law enforcement.

The women were booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine for sale and illegal weapons possession.

Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.