CDFW News

California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce Seizes $53M Worth of Unlicensed Cannabis

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 11:07:24 GMT

Reinforcing California’s commitment to supporting legal cannabis operators and dismantling the illegal market, the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) seized more than $53,620,600 million in illegal cannabis in the first quarter of this calendar year. Other enforcement highlights from the period of January 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024, includes:

31,866 pounds of unlicensed cannabis seized
54,137 unlicensed cannabis plants eradicated
$34,858 in cash seized
11 firearms seized
4 arrests

“California is home to the largest legal cannabis market in the world,” said Governor Newsom. “As we continue to cultivate a legal marketplace, we're taking aggressive action to crack down on those still operating in the shadows—shutting down illegal operations linked to organized crime, human trafficking, and the proliferation of illegal products that harm the environment and public health.”

“UCETF continues to strengthen its momentum by focusing on priority targets and strategically removing operations having a significant impact on the illegal cannabis supply chain,” said Nathaniel Arnold, Acting Chief of the CDFW Law Enforcement Division. “We are utilizing all the available resources from our partner agencies and are committed more than ever to providing public safety, protecting the environment, and helping the regulated market succeed and thrive.”

“A key to UCETF’s success is a collaborative approach relying on intelligence gathering, targeted investigations and leveraging the expertise of our members,” said Bill Jones, Chief of the Law Enforcement Division for DCC. “The Taskforce continues to play a crucial role in protecting the legal cannabis market while eliminating the often-dangerous activities associated with unlicensed cannabis operations.”

The following state agencies and departments participated in UCETF operations during Q1 2024: 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.

The taskforce is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and coordinated by the Homeland Security Division of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). The taskforce includes more than two dozen local, state, and federal partners working together to disrupt the illegal cannabis market.

The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) licenses and regulates commercial cannabis activity within California. DCC works closely with all stakeholders, including businesses and local jurisdictions, to create a sustainable legal cannabis industry and a safe and equitable marketplace. DCC develops and implements progressive cannabis policies with robust protections for public health, safety, and the environment.

To learn more about the California cannabis market, state licenses and laws, visit cannabis.ca.gov.

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Media Contacts:
David Hafner, DCC Communications, 916-883-9693
Janice Mackey, CDFW Communications, 916- 207-7891

Court approves $1.75 million settlement for cannabis cultivator’s environmental violations

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 11:47:30 GMT

Cultivator must remove unauthorized reservoirs, restore environment

SACRAMENTO – A Humboldt County Superior Court judge approved a settlement that requires a cannabis cultivator to pay $1.75 million for building and diverting water from illegal onstream reservoirs without first obtaining permits required by the California Water Boards and California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

The settlement, which was reached after a lengthy investigation, resolves violations by Joshua Sweet and his companies, The Hills LLC and Shadow Light Ranch LLC, that include: the owner’s destruction of wetland habitat and stream channels; conversion of oak woodland to grow cannabis; and failure to work with the State Water Resources Control Board, North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and CDFW to satisfy permitting requirements.

If Sweet completes restoration of the damaged property by 2026, $1 million of the penalty will be suspended. This work includes the removal of three unauthorized reservoirs and the rehabilitation of stream channels and damaged wetlands.

“It is critical for all cannabis cultivators to be environmentally responsible and protect California’s water supply and water quality,” said Taro Murano, program manager for the State Water Board’s Division of Water Rights cannabis enforcement section. “Sweet chose to operate his business while ignoring regulations designed to protect the environment. He must now remediate the environmental damage he caused and pay a significant penalty. No one should get a business advantage by ignoring the law and harming the environment.”

“This case represents years of hard work by dedicated staff to remediate damage to streambed channels, wetland habitat and oak woodlands,” said Nathaniel Arnold, acting chief of law enforcement for CDFW. “The settlement also speaks volumes to the egregious nature of this case and should send a strong message to those working outside of state regulations to cultivate cannabis. Our natural resources deserve to be respected.”

According to the settlement, Sweet must pay $500,000 to the Division of Water Rights, $175,000 to the North Coast Water Board, and $75,000 to CDFW over five years. Additionally, he is required to obtain all the necessary permits, cease unauthorized water diversions and use of water, restrict future property development and comply with all applicable regulations.

More information on cannabis enforcement is available on the State Water Board and CDFW websites.

The State Water Board’s mission is to preserve, enhance and restore the quality of California’s water resources and drinking water for the protection of the environment, public health and all beneficial uses, and to ensure proper water allocation for present and future generations.

CDFW's mission is to manage California's diverse fish, wildlife, and plant resources, and the habitats upon which they depend, for their ecological values and their use and enjoyment by the public.

The North Coast region stretches from the Oregon border to Marin County and is characterized by remote wilderness and towering redwoods. The area accounts for 12% of the state’s land area and 35% of its freshwater runoff. Timber harvesting, agriculture, recreation and tourism are mainstays of the local economy.

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Media Contacts:
Ailene Voisin, State Water Board
Janice Mackey, CDFW

California seizes over $312M in unlicensed cannabis during task force’s first calendar year of operation

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 11:51:36 GMT

UCETF has seized over $317M of illegal cannabis and 128 firearms since its inception

CALIFORNIA – Continuing to protect public safety, safeguard natural resources, and advance the integrity of the licensed cannabis market, the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) seized more than $312 million in unlicensed cannabis during its first calendar year of operation.

Among the highlights from the operations in 2023 was the seizure of almost 190,000 pounds of illegal cannabis, the eradication of almost 318,000 plants and the seizure of 119 illegally-possessed firearms.

“California is effectively decreasing the illegal cannabis market by leveraging the strengths and knowledge of over 20 state agencies and departments alongside our local and federal partners. The UCETF’s progress in 2023 reflects California’s ongoing commitment to disrupting and dismantling illegal cannabis activity,” stated Director Nicole Elliott of Department of Cannabis Control. “I look forward to working with all our partners in 2024 to build on this progress.”

“Since its inception in late 2022, California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce has hit the ground running with year-round operations that spanned from the Oregon state line all the way down to San Diego,” said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. “We’ve sent a strong message that illegal operations that harm our natural resources, threaten the safety of workers, and put consumer health at risk have no place in California. While there is more work to be done, we made progress last year and I look forward to going further alongside our county, state, and federal partners.”

The results of UCETF’s FY 2023 and Q4 2023 enforcement actions are:

UCETF Operations	Q4 2023	CY 2023
Search Warrants Served	24	188
Pounds of Cannabis Seized	13,393.65	189,854.02
Retail Value of Cannabis Products Seized	$22,294,571.41	$312,880,014.35
Cannabis Plants Eradicated	20,320	317,834
Firearms Seized	26	119
Money Seized	$35,195.25	$223,809

In addition to releasing the Q4 and yearly totals for 2023, the taskforce announced the top 5 counties for enforcement activity (according to value of cannabis seized) in calendar year 2023. They are:

County	Value of Cannabis Seized
Alameda	$77,828,338.50
Siskiyou	$70,747,875.00
Mendocino	$48,073,113.00
Los Angeles	$28,317,139.69
Kern	$21,578,438.25

Since inception, UCETF has seized $317,578,792.29 in unlicensed cannabis through 218 search warrants. The taskforce has also eradicated 347,321 plants and seized 128 firearms.

Created by Governor Newsom in 2022, the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce has been charged by the Governor 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.

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Media Contacts:
David Hafner, DCC Communications, press@cannabis.ca.gov
Janice Mackey, CDFW Communications, (916) 207-7891

Note: Annual UCETF figures may be updated in future news releases if additional operational details become available and are verified.

Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce strategically disrupted illegal market by seizing over $101M worth of unlicensed cannabis products, seized 363% more firearms in Q3 2023

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:03:35 GMT

Focusing on larger targets, the taskforce achieved similar results from previous quarter through serving 35 percent fewer search warrants

CALIFORNIA – Continuing to protect public safety, safeguard natural resources, and advance the integrity of the legal cannabis market, the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) seized more than $101 million in illegal cannabis during the third quarter of 2023. During enforcement operations, UCETF seized 69 crime-linked firearms — a 363% increase compared to the previous quarter.

Among the highlights from the last quarter were seizures of almost 100,000 cannabis plants and over 61,000 pounds of illegal cannabis. These numbers were accomplished despite serving 35 percent less search warrants in the quarter.

“For the last three months UCETF has been focused on larger, outdoor cannabis operations that posed a significant threat to the environment and public safety” stated Bill Jones, Chief of the Law Enforcement Division for DCC. “Many of these illegal cannabis operations are linked to organized crime, and in addition to threatening the environment and communities, the products these operations pose a direct threat to consumer health and the stability of the legal cannabis market.”

The results of UCETF’s Q3 2023 enforcement actions are listed below:

UCETF Operations	Q3 2023	Q2 2023
Search Warrants Served	60	92
Pounds of Cannabis Seized	61,415.75	66,315.01
Retail Value of Cannabis Products Seized	$101,349,657	$109,277,688.94
Cannabis Plants Eradicated	98,054	120,970
Firearms Seized	69	19
Money Seized	$0	$223,809

“Over the past quarter, UCTEF conducted several highly coordinated operations that will disrupt the illegal supply chain and improve consumer and public safety. The task force focused on rural areas where illegal cultivators have been conducting unlicensed operations,” said Nathaniel Arnold, Acting Chief of Enforcement for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “These enforcement numbers represent the hard work and commitment from our multiagency teams. I applaud our officers and partner agencies who worked tirelessly to identify these clandestine operations and provide a good measure of public and consumer safety.”

Since inception, UCETF has seized $295,284,220.94 in unlicensed cannabis through the serving of 203 search warrants. The taskforce has also eradicated 277,314 plants and seized 101 firearms.

Created in 2022, the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce has been charged by the Governor to better 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.

The taskforce is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and coordinated by the Homeland Security Division of Cal OES. The taskforce includes more than two dozen local, state, and federal partners working together to disrupt the illegal cannabis market.

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Media Contacts:
Department of Cannabis Control Communications, press@cannabis.ca.gov
Janice Mackey, CDFW Communications, (916) 207-7891

CDFW’s Cannabis Enforcement Program Targets Illegal Operations on Public and Private Lands

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 15:45:25 GMT

Wildlife officers with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (CDFW) Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) spearheaded several enforcement investigations in August and September.

From Sept. 4-8, MET officers targeted several illegal cannabis operations on rural private lands in Shasta, Tehama and Sutter counties. Officers received a tip from a hunter who stumbled on one of the trespass grow sites and reported it. As a result, MET officers eradicated more than 5,500 illegal plants, arrested four suspects, seized several firearms including one stolen handgun, dismantled several water diversions and removed thousands of pounds of trash. Support was provided from CDFW’s Air Services and K9 Units, as well as the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis (EPIC) task force.

“Many recreationists who venture into California’s backcountry are our best eyes and ears for reporting poaching, pollution and illegal cannabis cultivation on public land,” said Nathaniel Arnold, Acting Chief of Enforcement for CDFW. “These enforcement actions not only provide public and consumer safety, but they also combat the illegal cannabis supply chain. I could not be more proud of these dedicated officers.”

With information received through CDFW’s confidential CALTIP program, MET officers conducted an operation on CDFW property at the Putah Creek Wildlife Area in Solano County on Aug. 24. With assistance from CDFW’s Air Services Unit and Unpiloted Aircraft System (drones), officers eradicated 809 illegal cannabis plants, airlifted 1,140 pounds of trash from the area, dismantled an illegal water diversion, seized one loaded assault rifle, and removed an assortment of chemicals and fertilizers found near a tributary. Support was provided by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office.

On Aug. 9-11, MET officers conducted operations on U.S. Forest Service land in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. During the week, officers dismantled multiple illegal water diversions, seized multiple containers of restricted pesticides and documented dozens of environmental crimes. Officers also eradicated 5,967 cannabis plants, destroyed over 157 pounds of processed cannabis, and removed 1,970 pounds of trash, 300 pounds of fertilizer and 1,780 feet of irrigation pipe. Five suspects were arrested, one was armed with a handgun and one was armed with an assault rifle. Assistance was provided by the DOJ’s EPIC task force.

Developed in 2013, MET was CDFW’s first statewide special operations law enforcement team with the primary duty to protect public safety and California’s natural resources, particularly those threatened by environmental crimes associated with illegal cannabis cultivation on public lands.

CALTIP is a confidential secret witness program that encourages the public to provide CDFW with information leading to the arrest of poachers and polluters. If you have information about such a violation, call (888) 334-CALTIP (888 334-2258), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Learn more about illegal cannabis grows on public land (PDF).

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Media Contact:
Janice Mackey, CDFW Communications, (916) 207-7891