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Two arrested for operating Honey Oil Lab in Thermal

Two men arrested for operating an illegal Butane Honey Oil Lab in Thermal

Andrew Meza, 22 of La Quinta and Erick Maldonado, 24 of Thermal were arrested Friday morning by the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force with the assistance of RSO Marijuana Eradication Team.

The arrest happened after police served search warrants at two residences in the 52000 block of Avenida Herrera in La Quinta and the 56000 block of Jackson Street in Thermal.

A Butane Honey Oil Lab was discovered at the Thermal residence, according to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Honey Oil Labs have resulted in numerous explosions in residences around the county in the past year.

The news release also mentioned that officers also seized money and firearms including an AK-47 assault rifle, a shotgun, and a semi-auto handgun.

Maldonado was arrested for operating a butane honey oil lab, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, violation of probation and an outstanding weapons violation warrant

Meza was arrested for operating an illegal butane honey oil lab, violation of probation and an outstanding weapons possession warrant.

Both suspects have been booked at the Indio Jail.

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