Federal agents have announced the largest methamphetamine bust in the history of the US. The bust displayed a 10-foot high pile of the confiscated meth representing a haul of more than 2,200 pounds seized at stash houses in Riverside County. They also found numerous amounts of Cocaine and heroin.
“This is enough dope to provide a dose of meth for every man, woman, and child in the United States and Mexico,” DEA Acting Administrator said. “Study after study shows that where there is meth addiction, there is also an uptick in violent crime. Including robberies, assaults, and murders.”
Operation Crystal Shield is a nationwide effort involving investigators in nine cities including Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Atlanta. Agents seized more than 4,800 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests.
DEA agents said that there’s been a rise in arrests. They claim to have made over 2,800 arrests in the last six months.
“It seems to us that there’s a bit of desperation for cartels to try and get meth into the U.S.,” said DEA Special Agent John Callery.
The Southern California seizure occurred on Oct. 2, 2020, and included 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin, and 2,224 pounds of meth. CBP agents stopped a tractor-trailer with medical supplies and found drugs inside.
“It’s much more difficult for them to traffic the traditional way so we see them piling and bringing in larger and larger amounts across in one shot,” said Callery.
WHERE IS THE POLICE NOW?
Agents from Southwest Border Group 2 began investigating a large scale drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in the San Diego-Otay Mesa area. They had an involvement in the transportation and delivery of large quantities of drugs.
The investigation led to search warrants at multiple narcotic stash houses in Moreno Valley and Perris in Riverside County.
The drugs were about to be distributed in Southern California, including Los Angeles, according to DEA officials. The officials displayed the haul at the agency’s warehouse in an undisclosed location in Los Angeles County.
Callery said there is a supply issue right now and that’s resulting in an increase in the cost of meth. A 47-year old man from Mexico was arrested and turned over to a joint investigative team from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The DEA said he will face criminal charges.
This was not the only huge meth seizure in California. On Oct. 9, US Customs and Border Protection seized more than 300 pounds of meth at San Diego’s Otay Mesa border crossing.
