The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has made a record-breaking drug bust in Southern California, with 2,224 pounds of meth.

The said meth confiscated earlier this month at an alleged stash house in Perris, California was allegedly connected to the Sinaloa cartel. It was the largest domestic meth confiscation by the DEA. Aside from the meth, investigators also found 893 pounds of cocaine and 13 pounds of heroin.

On Wednesday, DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea said the confiscated drugs were enough dope to provide a dose of meth for every man, woman, and child in the United States and Mexico.

"Study after study shows that where there is meth addiction, there is also an uptick in violent crime, including robberies, assaults and murders," Shea said in a Your Central Valley report.

The haul resulted from several raids under "Operation Crystal Shield," which is the DEA's initiative launched in early February. 

The initiative aims to target methamphetamine transportation hubs scattered in states of Atlanta, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Phoenix, and St. Louis.

DEA's February news release said that these DEA Field Divisions comprised more than 75 percent of the meth seized in the United States last year. 

Ex-DEA officer

Last month, a former DEA agent appeared in federal court with charges of possession with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine.

Johnny Jacob Domingue was arrested on Wednesday in South Texas border town of McAllen. It was part of an investigation named "Operation Blue Shame." It resulted in several arrests of law enforcement agents, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick.

Domingue had been a federal task force officer of the DEA, according to a criminal complaint.

The complaint also stated that he agreed to pay $100,000 for the drugs. The filed charges also said he negotiated to transfer four kilos of cocaine.

If found guilty, he could face 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine. 

Sinaloa Connection

Bill Bodner, DEA special agent in Los Angeles division, said the suspects in the biggest haul in the agency's history domestically are likely to be big players with the cartels.

Bodner said someone who is responsible for this amount of drugs is someone who is very trusted by the cartels.

"A low-level operative would not be trusted to hold $18 million of drugs in a house," Bodner said in a CNN report. He added that it would not happen since these are high-level individuals.

Shea noted that the capture of drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, impeded Sinaloa Cartel operations and made room for its rival cartel, Jalisco Cartel, to rise.

Shea said the concerns are they are very violent and aggressive, adding that they are likely responsible for the amount of meth in the country. 

Substance Abuse Rising

Shea also cited that the pandemic brought a growth in drug use and overdoses. He said it is a tough time for everyone, and some people turn to drugs to deal with that.

Shea added that with the pandemic's lockdown restrictions, treatment options for drug users had been limited.

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