“This investigation, along with the amount of illegal narcotics seized and the arrests made, will likely have a major impact on the supply and distribution of illegal drugs in Northern California communities. Thank you to the local, state and federal law enforcement officers and agencies that worked to bust this operation.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
CALAVARAS COUNTY – On February 27, 2026, a coordinated multi-agency enforcement operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,500 pounds of finished methamphetamine. Investigators also located an estimated 1,270 pounds of suspected methamphetamine in a partially processed state, pending laboratory confirmation.
More than 100 law enforcement personnel executed simultaneous high-risk search warrants at residential properties in Valley Springs (Calaveras County), Turlock, and Modesto.
The warrant service resulted in:
- Eight arrests
- The Seizure of approximately 1,500 lbs. of suspected bulk methamphetamine, roughly 1,270 lbs. of methamphetamine in a partially processed state, 1,900 actively growing marijuana plants, and roughly 107 lbs. of processed marijuana
- 12 firearms
The February 27 enforcement action marked the culmination of a five-month investigation known as “Operation Trash Panda,” which targeted an alleged drug trafficking organization suspected of manufacturing and distributing methamphetamine throughout Northern California.
The investigation was initially led by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Unit (CNEU) in coordination with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. As the investigation intensified, the Calaveras County District Attorney’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Sacramento Area Intelligence Narcotics Team (SAINT), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Merced Area Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team (MAGNET), High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), agreed to assist.
Participating agencies contributed investigative resources, authored search warrants, provided analytical support, surveillance operations, and operational personnel necessary to execute the coordinated warrant service across multiple jurisdictions.
“Today’s operation demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships,” said Sheriff Rachelle Whiting of the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office. “Through collaborative investigative efforts, we were able to significantly disrupt an alleged narcotic trafficking network operating within our communities.”
The investigation commenced in October 2025 after deputies with the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office responded to an illegal dumping complaint in a remote area of the county. Due to the suspicious nature of the materials located, CNEU detectives initiated a follow-up investigation.
The discovery prompted the five-month multi-agency investigation. Through coordinated investigative efforts, authorities identified primary suspects and three separate locations believed to be associated with the suspected manufacturing and distribution operation.
The Calaveras County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office are working in close coordination with investigating agencies to evaluate the evidence, determine appropriate jurisdiction, and identify applicable state and/or federal charges to ensure the most effective prosecutorial course of action.
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Additional arrests, charges, or asset forfeiture proceedings may be forthcoming as the case progresses. According to agency records, this is the largest methamphetamine seizure ever for the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office.
