Sheriff’s deputies and California Alcohol Beverage Control agents raided The Smoke and Cerveza Store in Newhall Tuesday afternoon on tips the business was a front to sell methamphetamine, said a sheriff’s department official.

A month long investigation, which included complaints from neighbors and tips to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Narcotic Detectives, led to a search warrant on The Smoke and Cerveza Store located at 22940 1/2 Lyons Ave., Lt. Brenda Cambra said.

“Basically they allowed customers into the store to buy beer, play the video slot machine and purchase methamphetamine,” she said.

Deputies arrested the store’s owner Pacifico Palo, 47, of Canyon Country. He is charged with possession of methamphetamine.

Gerardo Tamayo, 33, of Saugus, an employee was arrested and charged with sale of illegal narcotics.
The two men are also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal operation of a video slot machine and allowing patrons to illegally consume alcohol on the premises.

The slot machine seized in the search contained $1,784 and was turned over to Alcohol Beverage Control for further investigation, a sheriff’s department report stated.

The men were booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station Tuesday evening. Palo is being held in lieu of $10,000. Tamayo is being held in lieu of $30,000.