California authorities have seized or destroyed 139,293 pounds of illicit cannabis valued at more than $230 million so far in 2026, Gov. 's office said Oct. 29.
Through September, the enforcement effort has also eradicated 236,846 cannabis plants this year, the office said. Since Newsom set up the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force in 2022, enforcement has resulted in more than $1.47 billion in estimated illicit cannabis seized or destroyed, 896,514 pounds seized or destroyed and 1,441,826 plants eradicated.
The task force is co-chaired by the California Department of Cannabis Control and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and coordinated by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. It targets illegal operations that threaten public safety, damage the state's natural resources and undermine the regulated cannabis industry, the office said.
Between July and September, task force-coordinated operations in nine counties seized or destroyed 55,308 pounds of illicit cannabis, eradicated 108,226 plants and removed more than $91 million in estimated illicit cannabis from the market. Those operations produced 14 arrests, nine firearms confiscated and $29,215 in cash seized.
Third-quarter operations uncovered suspected organized criminal activity, illegal water diversions, hazardous pesticides, utility theft, electrical bypasses and serious fire hazards, and investigators found indicators of potential labor exploitation in one investigation, the office said. In Alameda County, authorities seized more than 19,300 pounds and eradicated more than 38,500 plants at indoor sites in Hayward and Oakland. A three-day operation in the Lancaster area of Los Angeles County resulted in about 16,760 pounds seized and more than 33,000 plants eradicated, and investigators also recovered firearms and methamphetamine. Mendocino County operations seized or destroyed more than 4,400 pounds and eradicated nearly 7,000 plants, and a multiagency operation near the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area in Butte County resulted in nearly 2,700 pounds seized or destroyed, more than 5,300 plants eradicated and six arrests.
“Large-scale illegal cannabis operations are inherently unsafe for our communities and can be incredibly damaging to California’s ecosystems,” said CDFW Director Meghan Hertel, calling those ecosystems “our natural legacy.” “UCETF provides vital resources, strengthens coordination among partners and reinforces our shared commitment to California’s ongoing work to dismantle these illegal activities while protecting Californians and the state’s unique natural resources.”
“Illicit cannabis in California is a complex problem, but one that we will not stop taking enforcement action against,” said DCC Director Clint Kellum. “We will always fight to eradicate illegal cannabis because it makes way for the legal cannabis market to thrive and helps ensure Californians have access to safe, trusted product.”
“California is taking action against the illegal cannabis operations that put our communities at risk, damage our environment and undermine businesses that play by the rules,” Newsom said. The task force brings together agencies with expertise in law enforcement, cannabis regulation, environmental protection, taxation, labor standards, emergency response and public safety, which lets investigators pursue related violations such as environmental damage, unsafe electrical systems, illegal water use, potential tax evasion and labor exploitation, the office said.
State
Gavin Newsom
Governor · Democrat
Named 2 times in this story.
Portrait: Official portrait
Sources & methodology
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