California’s cannabis task force seizes over $19 million in illegal cannabis and products in recent operations

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:21:36 GMT

Continuing the state’s efforts to address the illegal cannabis market, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) recently seized a combined total of more than $19 million of illegally grown cannabis and illegally manufactured cannabis products during concurrent operations in Oakland and Hayward.

"I'm proud of the recent work by our cannabis task force, seizing a staggering $19.2 million in illicit cannabis from across the Bay Area. These operations are imperative in both bolstering California's legal cannabis market and protecting consumers from unregulated and dangerous products," said Governor Gavin Newsom.

Illegal products seized in the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)-led operation in Oakland included:

Over 7,000 illegal cannabis plants worth $6.1 million
Over 1,200 pounds of processed cannabis flower worth $2 million
581 pounds of concentrated cannabis worth $4.4 million
6,250 disposable vape cartridges worth over $41,000

CDFW led an enforcement action in East Oakland along with California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), and Oakland Hazardous Materials Management (HAZMAT) that resulted in more than $12.6 million in illegal cannabis being seized.

During this operation, CDFW discovered an illegal cannabis operation containing a functioning carbon dioxide (C02) and a Butane Honey Oil (BHO) laboratory. These operations can pose a significant risk to public safety, as butane honey oil is a concentrated form of cannabis that is highly flammable and explosive. This hazardous laboratory was safely disposed of by Oakland HAZMAT and DTSC teams.

“This successful operation, led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, underscores the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce’s dedication to safeguarding public health, protecting the environment, and preserving the integrity of California’s regulated cannabis market,” said Nathaniel Arnold, Chief of Law Enforcement at CDFW. “Unlicensed operations like this not only undermine state law, but also endanger our fish and wildlife species, habitats, and communities.”

Around the same time in Hayward, an enforcement operation led by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) with support from CDFW, CDTFA, Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) resulted in the seizure of 4,018 pounds of illegal cannabis plants and processed flower worth $6.6 million. For community safety, local code enforcement red-tagged the location and disconnected the electricity.

“UCETF continues to leverage the knowledge and experience of its partners to deliberately, and effectively, reduce the size of the unlicensed cannabis market,” said Bill Jones, Chief of Law Enforcement at DCC. “Being able to coordinate, and execute, operations of this size simultaneously is a significant advantage when targeting the illegal market.”

In 2022, Governor Newsom created the UCETF to further align state efforts and increase cannabis enforcement coordination between state, local, and federal partners. The 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.

Since its inception, UCETF has seized and destroyed over 162 tons of illegal cannabis worth an estimated $536 million through over 350 operations. The taskforce has also eradicated 526,037 plants, seized 167 firearms, and arrested 59 individuals.

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Media Contact:
Governor's Press Office: (916) 445-4571

California Takes Action to Combat Illicit Cannabis Grows and Transnational Criminal Organizations

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 14:56:38 GMT

New multi-agency enforcement taskforce is working to disrupt the illegal market, while increasing efforts to support entrepreneurs and businesses in the legal cannabis market

SACRAMENTO – Taking aggressive action to protect communities, consumers and the environment alike, Governor Gavin Newsom has directed the creation of a new multi-agency, cross-jurisdictional taskforce of enforcement agencies designed to better coordinate agencies combatting illegal cannabis operations and transnational criminal organizations.

This new “Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce,” which has been actively working since late summer, is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and is being coordinated by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) through its Homeland Security Division. The taskforce has been charged by the Governor to better align state efforts and increase enforcement coordination between state, local and federal partners.

“The State of California is committed to combatting illicit commercial cannabis activity which is causing pervasive harm to California communities, the environment, consumers and legal cannabis businesses,” said Nicole Elliott, Director of DCC.

“We cannot allow harmful, illicit cannabis operations to lay waste to the environment or threaten our communities,” said Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the Cal OES and the Governor’s Homeland Security Advisor. “We are bringing together the combined law enforcement resources of our state, local and federal agencies in a coordinated enforcement action against these bad actors and criminal organizations.”

“California has an abundance of public lands set aside for conservation, recreational use and the enjoyment of the people of this state,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “Unfortunately, criminal organizations are impacting these areas by exploiting some of our most pristine public lands and wildlife habitats as grow sites for cannabis.”

Since its inception, the taskforce has been actively coordinating with federal, state, local and tribal agencies to disrupt this illegal market, including:

Combatting the non-linear threat of transnational crime that extends to areas of California beyond the border and into some of most rural parts of the state.
Establishing a new data sharing agreement which allows state and local enforcement officials to more broadly share information and cross-match data across jurisdictions.
Leveraging and better aligning the authorities and legal provisions of federal, state and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies in conducting search warrants, indictments and maximizing arrests and prosecution of perpetrators, while also maximizing administrative, regulatory and civil penalties for bad actors.
Disrupting human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers.
Interdicting illegal cannabis shipments crossing California’s borders.
Coordinating with local police chiefs, sheriffs and federal officials to deploy personnel and equipment where needed.

By investigating, removing and reclaiming illegal grow sites as well as shutting down illegal manufacturing, distribution and retail operations, and by apprehending and applying meaningful repercussions to offenders and traffickers, state, local and federal law enforcement agencies are protecting consumer and public safety, safeguarding the environment, and depriving illegal cannabis operators and transnational criminal organizations of illicit revenue that undercuts the regulated cannabis market in California.

Large scale, illicit outdoor cannabis cultivation can be harmful to the environment. Non-compliant cultivation sites can negatively affect wildlife, vegetation, water, soil, and other natural resources when they utilize chemicals, fertilizers and terracing, and even poach local wild animals. Illegal cannabis cultivation results in the chemical contamination and alteration of watersheds, diversion of natural water courses, elimination of native vegetation, wildfire hazards, poaching of wildlife and harmful disposal of garbage, non-biodegradable materials and human waste.

Untested cannabis products also pose safety hazards to consumers, while all illegal activity undercuts the regulated market and hurts licensed cannabis business owners.

In addition to the three agencies participating as partners in the taskforce include:

California Agricultural Labor Relations Board
California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency
California Environmental Protection Agency
California Police Chiefs Association
California State Sheriffs Association
California Highway Patrol
California National Guard
California State Transportation Agency
California Franchise Tax Board
California Department of Food and Agriculture
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
California Department of Justice
California Department of Parks and Recreation
California Department of Pesticide Regulation
California Department of Public Health
California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
California Department of Toxic Substances Control
California Employment Development Department
California Department of Occupational Health and Safety
California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
California Government Operations Agency
California Water Resources Control Board
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program

CDFW File Photo.

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Media Contact:
Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 212-7352

CDFW News

California’s cannabis task force seizes over $19 million in illegal cannabis and products in recent operations

California Takes Action to Combat Illicit Cannabis Grows and Transnational Criminal Organizations