Kern County Authorities Reportedly Seize Over 3,600 Pounds of Methamphetamine
KERN COUNTY, CA — “Search warrant results in the seizure of approximately 953.9 pounds of methamphetamine and over 2,725 pounds of methamphetamine in solution, the dismantlement of a large methamphetamine conversion lab in a residential home in North Bakersfield and the arrest of five (5) suspects.
On October 30, 2025, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Kern County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (KC-HIDTA), with assistance from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Special Services Unit, and personnel from the Kern County Probation Department concluded a narcotics investigation with several traffic stops and the execution of search warrant at a residential home in the 400 blk of Rian Noelle Court, Bakersfield.
During the investigation, Christian Castro, (age 29) from Sinaloa, Mexico, Kymberly Lopez-Garcia (age 22), from Los Angeles, California, Jesus Felix-Castro (age 26) from Sinaloa, Mexico were surveilled leaving the residence in North Bakersfield and traffic stopped as they travelled in tandem North bound Hwy 99 South of Delano, and found to be in possession of approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine. Fausto Zazueta-Beltran (age 49) from Sinaloa, Mexico was located during the search warrant at the conversion lab and Casimiro Violante-Lopez (age 46) from Mexicali, Mexico was located and arrested in the 17000 block of Riviera Street, Bakersfield. All five suspects were arrested for their involvement in the conspiracy to operate the clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab.
Kern County Environmental Health and Kern County Code Compliance responded and assisted by conducting investigations respected to the dangerous chemicals/ hazards present at the residence/conversion lab. This investigation resulted in the dismantling of a large-scale clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab/operation.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office, Regional Crime Lab Response Team responded and processed the scene for forensic evidence.
Christian Castro, Kymberly Lopez-Garcia, Jesus Felix-Castro, Fausto Zazueta-Beltran and Casimiro Violante-Lopez 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, transportation of a controlled substance, maintaining a residence/place for drug sales and conspiracy to commit a crime. Casimiro Violante-Lopez was the subject of a 2021 KC-HIDTA investigation that resulted in the seizure of 53 pounds of methamphetamine, and had an active felony warrant from that investigation.”
