California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) seized more than $53,620,600 million in illegal cannabis in the first quarter of this calendar year. The UCETF also reported:
- 31,866 pounds of unlicensed cannabis seized
- 54,137 unlicensed cannabis plants eradicated-$34,858 in cash seized
- 11 firearms seized
- 4 arrests
State agencies and departments that participated in UCETF operations during Q1 2024 include the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Department of Cannabis Control, Employment Development Department, Department of Fish and Wildlife, California National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, California State Parks, and the Department of Tax and Fee Administration. In addition, multiple federal and local partners assisted with enforcement operations during the first quarter of 2024.
A total of 18 search warrants were served during Q1 2024 in the following counties:
- Alameda (2)
- Fresno (1)
- Kern (5)
- Los Angeles (1)
- Riverside (2)
- San Joaquin (1)
- Orange County (6)
Since inception, UCETF has seized $371,199,431 in unlicensed cannabis through 236 search warrants. The taskforce has also eradicated 401,458 plants and seized 139 firearms.
Created by Governor Newsom in 2022, the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce has been charged to further align state efforts and increase cannabis enforcement coordination between state, local and federal partners. UCETF’s enforcement actions protect consumer and public safety, safeguard the environment, and deprive illegal cannabis operators and transnational criminal organizations of illicit revenue that harms consumers and undercuts the regulated cannabis market in California.
