Fresno police arrest Modesto man and confiscate 24 pounds of meth during drug bust

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno police stop more than 24 pounds of meth from hitting the streets. The bust happened Tuesday morning in northwest Fresno.

Police Chief Jerry Dyer said this operation has been six months in the making and Tuesday was a success after officers brought back more than two dozen Ziploc bags filled with crystal meth. "This is certainly the most significant, not just in 2016, but for the last several years," said Dyer.

Dyer said narcotics detectives pretended to be buyers and arranged to meet up with 40-year-old Juan Tapia of Modesto right off Highway 99 and Herndon to make the big purchase. "Initially, it was 12 kilos of methamphetamine to be purchased for $7,500 per kilo," explained Dyer.

Dyer said the street value for these crystal packages found in the back of this car is about $200,000. Meth now out of the hands of dealers, and out of the hands of addicts. "We see an upwards of 90-percent of those individuals involved in auto theft who are addicted to methamphetamine. The vast majority of people involved in burglarizing home and business are addicted to methamphetamine," Dyer said.

Reyes Felix fills his truck up at the gas station where the bust took place. He said the impact of the operation will be far reaching. "That's something really good. Kids stay away from drugs and stuff like that-- something good for the community."

It's likely they will now that the drugs are being boxed, and pretty soon, destroyed.

Tapia, the man arrested for selling the crystal meth, faces federal possession charges. He is expected to appear in court Wednesday morning.