California Officials Seize 58,350 Illegal Cannabis Plants Worth $57 Million

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced three enforcement operations conducted in November that yielded major results, including eradicating 58,358 plants and seizing about three tons of processed cannabis worth an estimated $56.5 million. 

Spearheaded by Governor Newsom’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF), these major multiagency operations were led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). The operations out of Alameda and Los Angeles counties targeted large-scale illegal cultivation sites, both outdoor and indoor.

CDFW led two major multisite, multiagency operations coordinated through UCETF from November 18 to November 20, targeting unlicensed cultivation sites on private land in Alameda and Los Angeles counties. With support from state, local and regulatory partners, CDFW went after a combined 52 unlicensed outdoor cultivation sites in the Lancaster area in northeast Los Angeles County. CDFW identified the targets and, in partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), served 52 warrants at the sites.

The operation resulted in the eradication of 32,738 plants and the destruction of 5,122 pounds of processed cannabis. Officers detained and cited 12 individuals and seized six firearms. They also documented 24 California Fish and Game Code violations and confiscated 12 grams of methamphetamine. Bottles labeled as containing carbofuran and methamidophos, pesticides banned in the United States because of health and safety reasons, were found at multiple sites. Both can be highly toxic to fish and wildlife and their ecosystems and can contaminate soil and water resources.

In a separate operation on November 18 in the city of Hayward, CDFW officers executed search warrants on multiple industrial warehouses that were operating as unlicensed indoor cultivation sites. Officers eradicated 6,157 cannabis plants and seized 193.6 pounds of processed cannabis during this operation, which also involved assistance from several state and local agencies.

On November 24, DCC executed three warrants at unlicensed indoor cultivation sites in Harbor City, located near a recreation center and multiple religious institutions.

Investigators eradicated 19,463 plants and seized 277.2 pounds of processed cannabis, representing an estimated $16.5 million in illicit product. Partner agencies shut off utilities and issued multiple violations.