Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputies lost 60 pounds of methamphetamine April 19, after an undercover operation to catch narcotics traffickers went wrong.

Investigators from the department attempted what’s known as a “reverse buy”—selling street drugs to catch a narcotics dealer—and met with a suspect who was interested in buying the drug, according to an April 20 press release.

According to authorities, the suspect left in his car with the drugs after the transaction and led other deputies on a car chase. However, deputies lost sight of his vehicle and failed to arrest him, “due to high speeds and the suspect’s disregard for public safety,” the press release said.

It’s unclear how the buyer was able to drive away after the transaction. A request for additional information from the department was not returned.

The failed operation comes a month after the department announced it had seized around 12,500 pounds of methamphetamine in 2022, among several other drugs including fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana.