Massive Meth Bust Announced In RivCo, One Of CA's Biggest Seizures

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Authorities are not releasing much information about Wednesday's seizure of approximately 2 tons of methamphetamine in Riverside County and the city of West Covina, but it appears the haul is one of the state's largest.

The 9:30 p.m. bust involved investigators from the Riverside Sheriff’s Special Investigations Bureau, in cooperation with Homeland Security Investigations and the West Covina Police Department.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the law enforcement officials "investigated the transportation and sales of methamphetamine in Riverside and Los Angeles counties. The cooperative effort led to the seizure of 4,038 pounds of methamphetamine."

The meth was seized in an unincorporated area of Riverside County and the city of West Covina.

While West Covina police and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department typically investigate illegal activities within their own jurisdictions, Homeland Security Investigations tackles transnational crime.

No arrests were announced and the sheriff's department said it was not releasing further information.

The bust was one of the state's largest. In October 2022, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Los Angeles Field Division and other law enforcement agencies seized approximately 3,552 pounds of methamphetamine and 66 kilograms of cocaine in Norco. The bust followed an investigation into a cocaine and methamphetamine drug trafficking organization believed to be linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.

"This is the largest seizure of methamphetamine for the DEA Los Angeles Division," the federal agency reported at the time.

Outside of California, 6½ tons of methamphetamine were seized last month at the Eagle Pass Port of Entry in Texas.

The haul, valued at more than $117 million, was the largest ever at a port of entry in a single enforcement action, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which made the bust.

Donald Kusser, director, field operations at CBP's Laredo Field Office, called the Texas bust a "gargantuan methamphetamine seizure, the largest ever taken down by CBP officers at a port of entry ... ."