100 pounds of meth, seized in Chula Vista, San Diego
A recent Attorney General's report on crime in California, released in March 2014, indicated that 70% of the methamphetamine in the country, comes through the San Diego ports of entry. This should come of surprise to few in San Diego, familiar with the meth epidemic, that has grown in recent years, as prices tumble, and purity rises.
41% of males, and 46% of females arrested within San Diego in the last year tested positive for meth use, to briefly illustrate the size and scope of the drugs use in the city. Many violent crimes and 'crime sprees' are linked directly to meth use, including the shooting of two unarmed women in a purse snatching in Little Italy, over the summer. In recent years, a teenage boy died, swallowing liquid meth, at San Ysidro, and another was killed, under the influence of meth, while fighting ICE officers. San Diego has a long history of meth, going back to when El Cajon was known as the meth capital of the country, in the early and mid 90's.
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| Property in Chula Vista, Ca. |
DEA and Chula Vista police serving a federal search warrant, in the late night hours, likely in the scope of a large unnamed investigation raided a townhouse in the 700 block of Broadway in Chula Vista. The building was uninhabited, but authorities discovered 100 pounds of liquid meth, waiting to be processed into the crystalline substance sold on the street.
Meth is often smuggled into the country, through Tijuana, and then treated with acetone, and water to fluff and crystalize the substance. The location in Chula Vista was evidently a stash house for product and processing. DEA officials aren't commenting on the seizure, but past investigations indicate this part of a large investigation into cross border trafficking, and the seizure is likely the result of information gathered by wire taps, surveillance, and cooperating individuals.
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| Liquid meth after seizure |
A hazardous materials crew was on site, as agents and officers loaded trucks with barrels of evidence and liquid meth from the condo. As the prices continue to drop, estimated in AG Kamala Harris' report from earlier this year at 5,000 a pound, the seizure of liquid meth is likely worth around 300,000. Authorities have no commented on a trafficking group, or organization responsible, but Sinaloa traffickers and their affiliates are likely responsible, given the size of the seizure.
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| Pounds of crystalized meth, unrelated seizure. |
Labs in Sinaloa, similar or even superior to the 'super labs' of 'Breaking Bad', turn out hundreds of pounds of incredibly pure and cheap product. Last month, outside of Culiacan, authorities seized a lab, and 2 tons of meth. Dozens of pounds are routinely seized at border checkpoints, with around 50 being about average. So, this seizure amounts to a drop in the proverbial bucket, though the consequences for those immediately involved will be severe. The possible sentence for conspiracy to distribute or manufacture that quantity of meth is up to life in prison, with a likely sentence of 15-20 years.
