Illegal dumping tip off leads to insane $4m meth bust in California: ‘Operation Trash Panda’

California Gold Country cops uncovered almost 3,000 pounds of crystal meth — one of the largest seizures in US history — after a five-month multiagency operation into drug trafficking.

The astonishing bust came after police responded to a tip off about illegal dumping in Calaveras County in October 2025, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

“Operation Trash Panda,” involved more than 100 officers from at least eight agencies — including the FBI, the DEA, and the DHS. The operation culminated in the Feb. 27 bust at properties in Modesto, Turlock, and Valley Springs.

Authorities seized 1,443 pounds of suspected bulk methamphetamine and 1,270 pounds of partially processed meth with a street value of $4 million, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, which led the operation.

Cops have seized almost 3,000 pounds of meth, one of the biggest busts in US history. Calaveras County Sheriff's Office

Cops also recovered 1,900 marijuana plants, about 107 pounds of processed marijuana, and 12 firearms, making eight arrests, including one individual on the National Terrorist Watch List.

Officials said the bust is one of the largest domestic meth seizures in US history, and the biggest ever in Calaveras County.

The operation uncovered a secret meth lab in Valley Spring, a planned lab in Turlock, and a distribution site in Modesto.

The multi-agency bust also saw eight arrests, as well as marijuana and guns seized. Calaveras County Sheriff's Office

The alleged drug trafficking network was operating across multiple counties, according to investigators.

“Operation Trash Panda” is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.”

The investigation remains “active and ongoing,” and additional arrests and charges “may be forthcoming,” the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office said.

“Today’s operation demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships,” said Calaveras County Sheriff Rachelle Whiting.

“Through collaborative investigative efforts, we were able to significantly disrupt an alleged narcotic trafficking network operating within our communities,” he added.

It comes just days after nearly 600 pounds of suspected meth were seized at the US-Canada border.

The Canada Border Services charged Canadian national Kulbir Singh, 29, with driving the drugs into the US.