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.