"That's a bad combination.". Updated: 10:31 PM PDT October 14, 2020 CALIFORNIA, USA Federal agents announced what they called the largest methamphetamine bust in U.S. history Wednesday, displaying a 10-foot high pile of. The end result is an invisible network, valued in the billions of dollars, that weaves through the county, hidden within the same shipping and trucking lanes that carry agriculture and commercial goods from Mexico. As trafficking has expandedin Riverside County, so have efforts to stop it. RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Downtown Riverside is known throughout Southern California for its iconic festival of lights during the holidays. The investigation led to search warrants at multiple narcotic stash houses in Moreno Valley and Perris in Riverside County, officials said. The loose dirt turned easy. Officials say the change was spurred by lawmakers, in Sacramento and Washington D.C., who created aggressive laws restricting access to the chemicals used to make meth, commonly called precursors. Withoutingredients, small-scale meth labs became unfeasible. 9/21/2022 8:50 PM. The massive methamphetamine seizure was part of Operation Crystal Shield, a nationwide effort the DEA launched in February. Narcotics detectives with the Fontana Police Department spotted the exchange. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Authorities said the Oct. 2 take, which involved two locations, in Moreno Valley and Perris, represents the largest domestic seizure of the narcotic in the agency's history. The drugs seized at the location, which also included heroin and fentanyl, had a street value of about $7.2 million. INDIO, Calif. The black plastic pipe lay under the overpass, resting against the center median of Interstate 10, one of the nations busiest highways. The DEA said it was not revealing the locations of the stash houses because detectives were still working on making arrests. Each suspect was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. But danger still brews below the surface. Jawara, Earlington lead San Diego to OT win over Riverside December 20, 2022 Authorities say the suspects were attempting to sell hard drugs to the undercover officers, not marijuana. A 20-year-old La Crosse man faces multiple criminal charges after a Dec. 17 traffic stop in La Crosse. "We continue to work with our state and local partners to attack drug trafficking at all levels, and this seizure sends a clear message that we mean business.". A total of 23 arrests were made late last week during a warrant sweep. This California farm kingdom holds a key, Six people, including mother and baby, killed in Tulare County; drug cartel suspected, These are the 101 best restaurants in Los Angeles, New Bay Area maps show hidden flood risk from sea level rise and groundwater, Gina Lollobrigida, film star who conquered Italy, Hollywood and the world, dies at 95, Storm sets new L.A. rain records. Agents seized more than 4,800 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests, according to the DEA. Sheriff's Administration Posted on: January 10, 2023 Homicide Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Richard Carroll File # WI230090039 Details: In total, CBP officers found approximately 3,014 pounds of methamphetamine, 64 pounds of heroin, 29 pounds of fentanyl powder and almost 37 pounds of fentanyl pills, worth an estimated $7.2 million. Officials interdicting bundles of meth, heroin and fentanyl on Friday said it was the second-largest meth bust in Customs and Border Protection history. A furry hero sniffs out one of the largest drug busts in Fontana. Keep up with all the latest news, arts and culture, and TV highlights from KPBS. "This massive seizure likely saved lives and prevented the Sinaloa Cartel from doing business and profiting on the lives of people in our communities.". Cocaine and meth were being distributed throughout the region from the location, which investigators identified in September, according to the DEA. However, another federal agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, netted an even bigger amount of meth the following week. Industrial-sized labs moved to Mexico, where American laws are meaningless, and cartels now smuggle their product to their customer base in the U.S. Superficially,the shift has made Riverside County safer. That pipeline begins south of the border, in a region of Mexico controlled by the Sinaloa cartel. His identity was not provided. Man Accused Of Dumping Dog At Riverside County Cell Tower Arrested, Fill Up And Get A Fatburger To Go: Beyond Food Mart Coming To Beaumont, Big Bear Bald Eagles Lay First Egg of 2023. Agents seized more than 4,800 pounds of meth nationwide and are still working on more arrests, according to the DEA. Smugglers will try every way possible to try and get their product across the border; and because of the partnership between CBP, Homeland Security investigations and DEA, this significant seizure occurred and we stopped them, said Anne Maricich, acting CBP director of field operations in San Diego. "The greater Los Angeles area is a major transshipment hub where illegal drugs coming from the southwest border are stored in local warehouses, storage units and residential properties," according to the DEA. On Oct. 9, U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped a truck crossing from Mexico into the United States at San Diego's Otay . According to the DEA, an investigation into transportation and supply of illegal drugs flowing into the country from south of the border focused on the Sinaloa cartel, which has been operating in the Otay Mesa area. "Drugs make people make bad decisions," said Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez. A raid by federal and local authorities netted 12 arrests in the Riverside area, with authorities confiscating large amounts of weapons, cash and methamphetamine. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. It looks just like someone coming home from work.. Hayley Smith covers breaking news in California with a focus on wildfires, drought and climate change. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Officials discover 3,000 pounds of meth at Otay Mesa Port of Entry, Im afraid for her life: Riverside CC womens coach harassed after Title IX suit, Want to solve climate change? Federal agents announced what they called the largest methamphetamine bust in U.S. history Wednesday . Carfentanil . The scope is enormous here, and then spreads through to everywhere, said a Coachella Valley DEA agent, who asked not to be identified to preserve his undercover work. 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The drugs were intended for distribution throughout the region, investigators said. "These numbers are significant," said Kristi Johnson of the FBI. Diaz says it illustrates frustrations he has with other aspects of the criminal justice system. Mop the kitchen. The DEA said the Los Angeles area is the preferred transportation hub for drug traffickers because it is north of the border and it is easier to blend into big cities. Hailing from Temecula, she previously covered Riverside County and the Inland Empire and is now focused on Orange County. The drugs are alleged to have been stored in hidden compartments in their vehicles. Breaking News "The largest DEA domestic seizure of methamphetamine in history is a significant blow to the cartels, but more importantly, it is a gigantic victory for communities throughout Southern California and the United States that have had to deal with the torrent of methamphetamine coming into their neighborhoods," he said. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced a record-breaking bust Wednesday: roughly 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine recovered in Riverside County. Online Volunteer Info Session- Learn How to Advocate for Youth in Foster Care! Privacy advocates described the large number of Riverside County taps as a "red flag," but the DEA said the taps arereasonable considering the breadth and complexity of drug trafficking in this region. (DEA) MORENO VALLEY, CA Federal agents on Wednesday announced what they called the largest methamphetamine bust by Drug Enforcement Agency . The DEA's bust was just one of two massive meth seizures by federal authorities in October. The Southern California seizure occurred on Oct. 2, 2020 and included 893 pounds of cocaine, 13 pounds of heroin, and 2,224 pounds of methamphetamine. Last year, four Coachella men were indicted as part of a conspiracy to move millions in Sinaloa drug profits from Canada to Mexico. It was the quintessential pipe bomb, about a foot long and an inch-and-a-half wide, with caps on both ends. "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 Timothy Shea said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Your dad just called, said Teresa Reyes, speaking to her daughter on a cellphone. Operation Crystal Shield has been a nationwide effort involving 70 to 80 investigators in multiple cities, including Perris, Fontana, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix and Atlanta. In April, Arkansas State Police found 275 poundsof meth worth an estimated $10 million hidden in a semi-truck on Interstate 40, about 10 miles east of Little Rock. One of the suspects was on active parole for attempted murder. He says to hurry up and clean there because I think hes going to take visitors.. Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily. If Leon-Garcias truck had been stopped here, instead, the case would have been far less remarkable. "They can break the drug loads down and do distribution throughout the country," Bodner said. "The bulk shipments of drugs are usually broken down into smaller quantities and transported to other states or distributed to local dealers.". Click Here to Download the News Channel 3 app. Agents from Southwest Border Group 2 began investigating a large scale drug trafficking organization with ties to the Sinaloa Cartel in San Diego's Otay-Mesa area, allegedly involved in the transportation and delivery of large quantities of drugs. Fine white powder sprinkled out of the tiny holes. Klikk Administrer innstillinger for mer informasjon og for administrere valgene dine. Bill Bodner, special agent in charge of the DEA's Los Angeles Field Division, said Los Angeles is a major transshipment hub for Mexican cartels trafficking illegal drugs across the southwest border. 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