California police seized what they call a staggering amount of methamphetamine - almost 500 pounds -- and arrested 22 individuals involved in an operation that links to a Mexican drug cartel.

The multi-agency investigation in Richmond took several years and included a number of agencies in Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa Times reported.

Authorities announced the arrests and seizure of $723,635 in U.S. currency, along with 495 pounds of meth Monday.

Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark Peterson told the CCT that the meth was valued at $18 million on the street.

"It's absolutely staggering," Peterson said. "It's the largest both in terms of drugs and the cash seized that we know of in the history of Contra Costa County."

The bust has wiped out an organization, trafficking drugs linked to a major Mexican cartel, who had kept a majority of the drugs at an undisclosed location in Antioch.

The operation was a combination of two previously pursued operations by the West Contra Costa and Los Angeles authorities. It has been tracking the organization since 2008.

The last investigation revealed the drugs were connected to the Sinaloa Federation cartel, and it has taken three investigations to capture more than 60 individuals.

Overall, 1,109 pounds of methamphetamine with a street value of $40.2 million, 48 firearms, 10 vehicles and $1.82 million in cash have been seized. Authorities have arrested 67 individuals in connection with the drugs and firearms, CCT reported.

This is just the latest in what the state is seeing as a rise in their meth problem.

Kent Shaw, the deputy director for the California Department of Justice, told CCT the state is seeing a record number of seizures, and a record amount of drugs in those busts.

California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced earlier this month the creation of a state-wide anti-methamphetamine team based in Los Angeles.

The new team, funded by a $1 million federal grant, would work with the already-existing 18 task forces that have worked to uncover the drug trades.