Ruiz

I. BACKGROUND

This case originated when agents of the Stanislaus County Drug Enforcement Agency (SDEA) began surveillance of a red truck containing two 55-gallon drums of methanol. Meth- anol is commonly used by meth manufacturers to extract pseudoephedrine from tablets. At trial, a narcotics officer described it as the “meth cook’s choice.”

Agents followed the red truck to a residence on Atlantic Drive in Modesto, California, owned by Jose Acosta (Acosta). After a white pickup truck with a camper shell arrived, agents observed Ruiz, the driver of the white pickup, remove three 1 Accordingly, we do not address the sentencing issues raised on appeal. We only note that reversal of the firearms convictions causes the sentenc- ing package to become “unbundled.” On remand, the district court must “put together a new package reflecting its considered judgment as to the punishment the defendant[s] deserve[ ] for the crimes of which [they are] still convicted.” United States v. Bennett, 363 F.3d 947, 955 (9th Cir. 2004) (citations omitted). 10484 UNITED STATES v. RUIZ empty 5-gallon plastic containers from the back of the white pickup. Ruiz departed and returned…