BAKERSFIELD — Two Cathedral City residents are sitting in a Kern County Jail cell after being busted on Wednesday with large amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Refugio Mercado, 34, and 28-year-old Belen Tapia were both booked into the Kern County jail for possession of drugs for sales, transportation of drugs and conspiracy. According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the arrests were the result of a month-long investigation by the KCSO Major Violator Unit into a major drug operation in south Bakersfield.
On Oct. 15, deputies contacted the suspects in a south Bakersfield parking lot, where they were found to be in possession of 10 pounds of crystal methamphetamine. After a search of Mercado’s person, deputies also discovered he was in possession of a small amount of cocaine.
Sherriff’s investigators said the seized drugs have a potential street value of over $350,000.
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