Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The state’s crackdown on illegal cannabis has resulted in the seizure of more than 63,000 pounds of illicit pot over three months in Los Angeles County and elsewhere, state officials have announced.
The largest enforcement action took place between May 14 and June 3 in the southern Central Valley and northern Antelope Valley. Led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the multi-agency operation served 26 search warrants at illicit cannabis sites across L.A., Tulare and Kern counties, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Since the establishment of the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force in 2022, the state has seized and destroyed more than 841,000 pounds of illicit cannabis valued at more than $1.3 billion, Newsom said.
“Illicit cannabis cultivation continues to pose threats to the environment and public safety that we take very seriously,” said state Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Meghan Hertel. “UCETF partners found a wide range of violations and concerns during their operations this spring—among them, restricted pesticides that we frequently see at grow sites associated with organized criminal enterprises. These toxic chemicals are harmful to fish and wildlife and the habitats they depend on to survive, and they’re a threat to consumers, who could purchase cannabis that was illegally grown, processed and sold and hasn’t been tested for safety.”
The law enforcement operations focused on illegal cannabis cultivation and distribution associated with environmental damage, illegal firearms, hazardous pesticides, labor exploitation and organized criminal activity.
In Los Angeles County alone, 4,704 pounds of illegal cannabis with an estimated value of $7.8 million have been destroyed, officials said.
Newsom said additional state-led operations throughout April, May and June uncovered significant indicators of organized criminal activity and environmental crimes across the Riverside and Los Angeles areas.
In Riverside County, state and local partners dismantled an illegal indoor cultivation operation, seizing about 1,395 pounds of illicit cannabis products and 2,415 cannabis plants, with an estimated retail value of $2.3 million. Authorities identified hazardous environmental conditions that led local officials to red-tag the structure as well, authorities said.
In Los Angeles County, officers served 12 search warrants, eradicated more than 7,000 cannabis plants, recovered processed cannabis and suspected methamphetamine and discovered the highly toxic pesticide methamidophos at two cultivation sites, it was reported.
“Disrupting the illegal cannabis market is about more than seizing unlicensed products — it’s about taking on criminal networks, removing illegal firearms out of the hands of dangerous individuals and stopping activity that threatens public safety,” Newsom said in a statement July 9. “Through strong multi-agency collaboration, California is making clear: If you threaten our communities, we will act.”
“These continued efforts protect the health and well-being of California’s communities, our economy, and the licensed cannabis market,” said Department of Cannabis Control Director Clint Kellum. “We must keep enforcement pressure on illegal operations that pose risks to consumers and undermine the progress of the regulated industry. Through the work of UCETF, California is leading the way in cracking down on the illicit cannabis market, making sure that consumers are safe and the legal cannabis industry remains strong and supported.”
