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By For The Madera Tribune

The Madera County Narcotic Enforcement Team has recovered 8.2 pounds of black tar heroin in Fresno and arrested two people with ties to a Mexican drug cartel, according to Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Erica Stuart.

Felipe Morales Rios, 32, and Ivan Francisco Soto Torres, 24, were arrested Thursday in the 300 block of North G Street in Madera. Torres also goes by the names Javier Soto Torrez and Francisco Javier Torrez.

Their arrests follow several months of investigation into drug trafficking, Stuart said. MADNET agents allege that both suspects were Madera's main suppliers, transporting heroin from Fresno to Madera for sale for at least a year.

Following the arrests, agents served search warrants at three locations in Fresno, a house at Ashlan and Hughes avenues, one in the 4000 block of Sequoia Avenue and at an apartment on Ashlan and Peach avenues.

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