The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) just announced a major bust in Northern California in which federal agents seized 2,700 pounds of methamphetamine in various stages of production, marking one of the largest drug busts in US history.

We have news this week about a major drug bust that took place on February 27 in Valley Springs, California, in Calaveras County, resulting from a five-month investigation by the DEA's Sacramento office. As the Chronicle reports, the investigation began following an October report of illegal dumping in Calaveras County, and authorities found what they believed to be a significant volume of "byproducts of a drug lab," which ultimately led them to the lab in question.

Eight people were arrested in conjunction with the bust, including one individual who was reportedly on the National Terrorist Watch List. None of the names of the suspects have yet been released.

The seizure of 2,700 pounds of meth, the DEA says, "represents a substantial disruption to the supply chain operating within mountain and valley communities across the region."

"[This] operation demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships," said Sheriff Rachelle Whiting of the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, in a statement. "Through collaborative investigative efforts, we were able to significantly disrupt an alleged narcotic trafficking network operating within our communities."

12 firearms and over 1,000 rounds of ammunition was also seized in the operation, as well as 1,900 marijuana plants and over 100 pounds of processed cannabis.

According to a release, the DEA also busted a related lab operation in Turlock, as well as a suspected storage and distribution facility in Modesto.

Photos posted by the DEA appear to show the main lab operating out of a barn-like structure in a rural area.

The eight suspects face charges including manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and felony child abuse.

"DEA is committed to targeting and dismantling Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and individuals distributing methamphetamine and other dangerous poisons causing harm in our communities,” says Special Agent in Charge, Bob P. Beris of the San Francisco Field Division of the DEA, in a statement. “The Sacramento District Office worked relentlessly with multi-agency operations standing shoulder to shoulder delivering significant blows to the cartels and FTOs often linked to violent crimes, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and kidnapping. Our combined efforts are focused on protecting Americans from the deadly poison these FTOs push into our communities.”