Lab Was Located A Block Away From The Police Station
GILROY—A strong odor of gas emanating from a house on Rosanna Street in Gilroy had some neighbors concerned, so they called the Gilroy Fire Department. The Fire Department addressing a possible public danger entered the house.
Rene Vargas booking photo
While there they found evidence for what they believed was a drug lab. The firefighters called the Police Department and turned their investigation over to the Anti-Crime Team.
The Anti-Crime team was able to get a search warrant for the residence signed by a Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge. They served the warrant and found a room in the home was being used as a clandestine Butane Honey Oil Extraction Lab.
It should be noted that the lab was located within feet of a child’s play area. Members of the Santa Clara County Special Enforcement Team, who have specialized training in these types of labs, along with the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, began to dismantle and seize the equipment used in the lab.
Neighbors detected a suspicious odor coming from Vargas’ house on Rosanna St.
They found several butane gas cans, a pressure-cooking device, mechanical pumps and pure alcohol. They also seized some concentrated cannabis/honey oil that had a street value of $15,600. Along with the honey oil they confiscated some marijuana that had a street value of $6,000.
The resident, 31-year-old Rene Vargas, was arrested and charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of marijuana/concentrated cannabis for sale and child endangerment. His bail has been at $106,000.00.
An investigation has determined that the manufacturing of the honey oil was going on in the residence while Vargas, along with his 59-year-old father, his wife and their 11-month-old son occupied the house.
