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Five individuals from Mexico have been charged with federal offenses related to drug trafficking and weapons following the discovery of a covert methamphetamine lab in Northern California. Authorities reported the seizure of almost 3,000 pounds of methamphetamines as a result of this operation.
This week, the Department of Justice announced that a federal grand jury issued a 10-count indictment against the accused: Luis Reyna Carrillo, 33; Mariana Vanessa Mendoza Camacho, 33; Juan Jesus Manriquez Diaz, 31; Alvaro Rosales, 44; and Manuel Juan Madrid Perez, 38. They face charges of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, in addition to various drug trafficking and firearms violations.
“These individuals, who are in the country illegally, allegedly ran a hidden laboratory on U.S. soil, producing massive quantities of lethal drugs with the intent to harm our communities,” stated Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This illegal and secretive operation has been shut down. We will persist in safeguarding Americans against the perilous consequences of previous open-border policies.”
According to court records, Carrillo and his wife, Camacho, entered the United States in March 2021 and were scheduled to appear in court at a later date. Diaz was deported from the U.S. in 2018, and Rosales was removed in 2024.
Federal agents successfully confiscated nearly 3,000 pounds of methamphetamine during the Northern California lab raid, leading to drug trafficking and weapons charges against the five suspects. (Department of Justice)
Court documents allege that in October 2025, law enforcement officials launched an investigation into an organization suspected of manufacturing and trafficking methamphetamine in a remote section of Calaveras County.
Investigators identified Carrillo and his associates as part of a drug trafficking operation responsible for manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine in Calaveras County.
The investigation culminated on Feb. 27, 2026, when multiple agencies executed search warrants at three locations — Valley Springs, Turlock and Modesto — all allegedly connected to Carrillo and his associates.
Federal agents seized nearly 3,000 pounds of meth in a Northern California lab bust, charging five suspects with drug trafficking and weapons offenses. (Department of Justice)
During the searches, investigators discovered a clandestine methamphetamine lab in Calaveras County, where they seized nearly 1,430 pounds of methamphetamine and 1,270 pounds of suspected methamphetamine in a partially processed state.
Authorities also searched two additional residences in Stanislaus County linked to Carrillo and his associates. At a home in Turlock, agents seized an additional 300 pounds of methamphetamine packaged for distribution, nine firearms and multiple magazines and rounds of ammunition.
In Modesto, agents seized two pounds of methamphetamine, 107 pounds of processed marijuana, 1,900 marijuana plants and three firearms.
Federal agents seized nearly 3,000 pounds of meth in a Northern California lab bust, charging five suspects with drug trafficking and weapons offenses. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
The DOJ said Carrillo and Diaz are both prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because they are illegal aliens, while Perez is also prohibited from having guns and ammunition due to prior felony convictions.
All five defendants — Carrillo, Camacho, Diaz, Rosales and Perez — are charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine, as well as possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
Carrillo, Diaz and Perez also face additional charges related to possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.
Carrillo is also charged with illegally possessing a firearm as a noncitizen, while Diaz is accused of unlawfully possessing ammunition.
Perez also faces a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm due to prior convictions.
If convicted on the drug trafficking charges, Carrillo, Camacho, Diaz, Rosales and Perez each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and up to life behind bars, along with fines of up to $10 million, according to federal prosecutors.
Carrillo, Diaz and Perez could face additional penalties if convicted on the firearms-related charges.
Perez also faces enhanced penalties due to prior felony convictions.
Any final sentence would be determined by a judge based on federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.