California Cracks Down on Illegal Cannabis Market, Seizing $57 Million Worth of Illegal Plants and Product
In a major effort to eradicate the illicit cannabis market, California officials conducted three major enforcement operations in November, resulting in the seizure of 58,358 illegal cannabis plants and nearly three tons of processed cannabis worth an estimated $56.5 million.
The operations, led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), targeted large-scale illegal cultivation sites in Alameda and Los Angeles counties. The sites, which posed significant risks to natural resources and surrounding neighborhoods, were shut down and eradicated.
The first operation, conducted in the Lancaster area of Los Angeles County, resulted in the eradication of 32,738 plants and the destruction of 5,122 pounds of processed cannabis. Twelve individuals were detained and cited, and six firearms were seized. Officers also documented 24 California Fish and Game Code violations and confiscated 12 grams of methamphetamine.
The second operation, conducted in the city of Hayward, resulted in the eradication of 6,157 cannabis plants and the seizure of 193.6 pounds of processed cannabis. The third operation, conducted in Harbor City, resulted in the eradication of 19,463 plants and the seizure of 277.2 pounds of processed cannabis, worth an estimated $16.5 million.
“These illegal cannabis operations, particularly those embedded in residential neighborhoods, pose unacceptable risks to California families,” said DCC Director Nicole Elliott. “We are committed to protecting the public and holding bad actors accountable.”
The operations were part of the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF), established in 2022 by Governor Gavin Newsom to enhance collaboration and enforcement coordination between state, local, and federal partners. The taskforce has conducted hundreds of enforcement actions, seized millions of cannabis plants, and prioritized operations linked to significant environmental, labor, and public safety violations.
“Californians pay the price when illegal operators bypass environmental protections,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Our officers work long hours under difficult conditions to shut down unlicensed operations that threaten the environment and nearby communities. We remain committed to working with our UCETF partners to dismantle operations that hurt wildlife and their habitats, threaten water supplies, and undermine the state’s legal cannabis market.”
The state’s efforts to take down illegal cannabis operations involve significant collaboration to protect consumer and public safety, safeguard the environment, and deprive illegal cannabis operators of illicit revenue.
