Authorities arrested a 22-year-old man and dismantled a large-scale methamphetamine conversion lab in a rural farm area west of Delano after executing search warrants that led to the seizure of about 55 pounds of methamphetamine, about 100 gallons of methamphetamine in solution, five firearms, and the eradication of 1,499 marijuana plants, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said.

Authorities served a search warrant Wednesday at a property authorities said was being maintained to conceal a clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab.

The suspect, Kevin Zavala-Rivera, was taken into custody at the property, the sheriff’s office said. He also was wanted in connection to a meth lab uncovered last year in Kerman.

The Kerman Case

The investigation stems from September 2025, when task force detectives and the Department of Justice’s High Impact Investigation Team executed search warrants at a residence and a clandestine methamphetamine conversion lab in the 16000 and 19000 blocks of West Jensen Avenue in Kerman.

In that case, authorities seized 252.2 pounds of methamphetamine, an additional 100 gallons of methamphetamine in solution, 14 firearms and a large amount of U.S. currency. They also dismantled the conversion lab. Two suspects were arrested, but Zavala-Rivera fled before the warrant was served, and a warrant was obtained for his arrest, the sheriff’s office said.

Detectives continued investigating Zavala-Rivera’s whereabouts and criminal activity, which led to locating and dismantling the additional lab west of Delano, authorities said.

Personnel from the task force and Kern County Environmental Health accessed the property because of the dangerous chemicals and hazards present at the conversion lab, the sheriff’s office said.

Zavala-Rivera, who authorities said is from Sinaloa, Mexico, was booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Lerdo Justice Facility on charges of manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sales, maintaining a residence or place for drug sales, and on his active warrant for the same charges related to the Kerman lab investigation.

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