On December 19, 2018 at approximately 7:00 a.m., the Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET) and Los Banos Police Department served a narcotics search warrant at a home in the 400 block of North Santa Venetia Street.

Investigators found over 140 pounds of methamphetamine, 5 pounds of powder cocaine, and more than $41,000 dollars in cash currency.

Francisco Ivan Mendez, 26-year-old of San Jose was arrested and charged with manufacture of methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine for sale –over ten pounds, possession of cocaine for sale, and other related narcotics charges.

The investigation is ongoing and the Fresno Methamphetamine Task Force is continuing to process evidence from a methamphetamine conversion lab off site. The home was being used a methamphetamine conversion lab and Mendez was the sole occupant.