Adan Nunez-Torres was driving near Green Valley Road and Celia Drive about a mile north of Watsonville at about 3:15 p.m. Wednesday when he was pulled over by members of the Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force.
The task force members determined that he was driving without a license, found 2.5 ounces of crystal methamphetamine in the car, and arrested him, authorities said.
The task force turned the case over to the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, a countywide drug enforcement group, for further investigation.
Suspecting that Nunez-Torres used his Watsonville home to stash more drugs, the crime team obtained a search warrant, according to the team.
Members of the crime team, accompanied by Homeland Security agents, entered the home at about 5:15 p.m. and confiscated 1.5 pounds of crystal methamphetamine with a street value of about $70,000; drug weighing and preparation equipment; a loaded .45-caliber handgun; a 9mm handgun that was reported stolen; and $3,000 in cash.
Nunez-Torres was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of possession and transportation of a controlled substance for sale and possession of a controlled substance while armed with a gun. Homeland Security has placed an immigration hold on him.
