{"id":469477,"date":"2026-09-19T23:16:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T23:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/469477\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T23:16:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T23:16:10","slug":"fresno-county-sheriff-reports-operation-klean-strip-dismantles-two-meth-conversion-labs-in-bakersfield-and-visalia-12-suspects-arrests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/469477\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresno County Sheriff Reports Operation \u201cKlean Strip\u201d Dismantles Two Meth Conversion Labs in Bakersfield and Visalia; 12 Suspects Arrests"},"content":{"rendered":"

September 19, 2026 \u2013 Fresno County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on Thursday, the United States Attorney\u2019s Office announced the results of Operation Klean Strip, a multi\u2011agency investigation that dismantled two large\u2011scale methamphetamine conversion laboratories in Bakersfield and Visalia. The operation began in November 2025 and ended\u00a0on September 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

During that time, 12 arrests were made, 16 search warrants were served, agents seized close to 2,200 pounds of crystal methamphetamine, nearly 500 gallons of liquid methamphetamine, 4,000 marijuana plants, $20,000 in drug proceeds and 20 firearms.<\/p>\n

A criminal complaint charges the following 12 defendants with conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine:<\/p>\n

– Ramiro Luna, 52, of San Bernardino<\/p>\n

– Robert Gray, 54, of San Bernardino Gustavo Alejandro<\/p>\n

– Mendoza\u2011Felix, 27, of Visalia<\/p>\n

– Jesus Efrain Lopez\u2011Felix, 34, of Tulare<\/p>\n

– Elvis Ramirez\u2011Beltran, 25, of Mexico, residing in Porterville<\/p>\n

– Gabriel Ramirez\u2011Beltran, 27, of Mexico, residing in Selma<\/p>\n

– Marissa Lopez\u2011Felix, 30, of Porterville<\/p>\n

– Jose Armando Lopez\u2011Felix, 29, of Mexico, residing in Yokuts Valley<\/p>\n

– Jaciel Lopez\u2011Felix, 23, of Mexico residing in Sanger<\/p>\n

– Faustino Romero\u2011Leon, 50, of Mexico, residing in Sanger<\/p>\n

– Alberto Lopez\u2011Castillo, 21, of Visalia<\/p>\n

– Jesus Adrian Rios\u2011Ramirez, 27, of Mexico<\/p>\n

If convicted, the defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years and up to life in prison, and fines up to $10 million, depending on drug quantity and prior convictions.<\/p>\n

Related: Takedown of \u201cOperation Klean Strip\u201d Dismantles Two Meth Conversion Labs in Visalia and Bakersfield; 9 Arrested, 3 Indicted<\/a><\/p>\n

This case is the product of an investigation led by the FBI and the California Department of Justice Fresno High Impact Investigation Team (HIIT), which is made up of partner agencies from Fresno County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Fresno Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Madera County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Kings County Sheriff\u2019s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Additional assistance was provided by the Central Valley High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), consisting of Kern County HIDTA and Tulare County HIDTA, along with Department of Homeland Security, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force, the Kern County District Attorney\u2019s Office and the Tulare County District Attorney\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n

Source & photos: Fresno County Sheriff’s Office



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