LAKEPORT, Calif. – The service of a search warrant by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at a Lakeport home has resulted in several felony arrests, the seizure of nearly 350 pounds of processed marijuana, and the seizure of more than 6 pounds of concentrated cannabis.

Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said those arrested as part of the operation were Michael Louis Kelly, 59, of Lakeport; Felix Fernando Benitez Medina, 39, of Costa Mesa; and 24-year-old Nemer Salas-Martinez of Whittier.

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for Kelly’s Cedar Hill Way home, Bauman said. On the following day at 7:30 a.m. narcotics detectives served the warrant with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit detectives and uniformed patrol deputies. As detectives entered the property and approached the home, two men were leaving in a vehicle and detained without incident. Bauman said the men were identified Medina and Salas-Martinez. Detectives announced themselves at the door of the home and after receiving no response, forced entry into the home, Bauman said. Shortly after a search of the home began, Kelly arrived at the property in a vehicle and was also detained without incident.

During a search of the home, detectives located an active lab for processing concentrated cannabis, or hashish, in a front room. Bauman said a bottle of liquid nitrogen, commonly used for processing hashish, was located in the room and over 6 pounds of freshly processed hashish was found drying on a table. A large plastic tub containing several vacuum sealed bags of processed marijuana was also found in the room. In one bedroom, detectives located hundreds of “Food Saverâ€