The discovery of a methamphetamine lab dump in Hilmar on Monday led to the arrest of two Stevinson men on Tuesday.

On Monday agents with the Mariposa-Merced High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force responded to the report of a lab dump in the area of Crane and Columbus avenues in Hilmar. At the scene agents found several glass containers and approximately 50 pounds of chemical waste, said sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie. After processing the scene, their investigation led them to obtain two search warrants; one for a residence in the 19000 block of Sixth Avenue in Stevinson and the second in the 2000 block of Nelander in Stevinson.

On Tuesday, the warrants were served out by the MMHIDTA with an assist from the Merced Sheriff’s STAR Team and the Merced Multi Agency Narcotics Task Force.

At the Sixth Street address, items similar to those found at the dump were located inside the residence, MacKenzie said. Joshua Candela, 33, of Stevinson was taken into custody on an arrest warrant for manufacturing methamphetamine and illegally dumping lab waste and remains on $510,000 bail.

At the Nelander residence agents found 75 pounds of pill “binder,” the left over material when extracting ephedrine to make methamphetamine from cold pills, MacKenzie said. Dean Robinson, 48, of Stevinson was taken into custody for manufacturing methamphetamine, illegally dumping lab waste and conspiracy to commit a crime and remains in jail on $515,000 bail.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.