California seizes 63,000 pounds of unlicensed cannabis in three months
Between April and June 2026, California's cannabis task force destroyed or seized 63,204 pounds of cannabis and 89,257 plants in ten counties, and arrested 24 people.
🇺🇸 Kern, Alameda, Butte, Los Angeles and six other counties · California, United States
- Arrested
- 24
- Plants destroyed
- 89,257
- Cannabis
- 28,669 kg
- Value (official estimate)
- USD 104,000,000
The state says its task force goes after unlicensed cannabis operations tied to organised crime, environmental harm and threats to public safety.[1] From April to June 2026, the state’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force and local partners seized or destroyed 63,204 pounds (about 28.7 tonnes) of cannabis, valued at more than USD 104 million, and eradicated 89,257 plants.[2] They arrested 24 people, confiscated 17 firearms and took USD 220,923 in cash, in ten counties.[2]
Where
Kern County saw the most: 25,122 pounds destroyed and 26,442 plants eradicated, followed by Alameda, Butte, Los Angeles and Stanislaus.[2] The largest single operation, led by the Department of Fish and Wildlife from 14 May to 3 June, served 26 search warrants in Tulare, Kern and Los Angeles counties and eradicated nearly 24,000 plants.[2] At 13 of those sites, officers found or suspected banned or unregistered pesticides.[2] In Ventura County, a months-long investigation ended in searches at nine places and 14 arrests.[2]
Since 2022
Governor Gavin Newsom set up the task force in 2022; it is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control and the Department of Fish and Wildlife.[2][1] By its own count it has since seized and destroyed more than 841,000 pounds of cannabis, including 1.3 million plants, executed more than 750 search warrants in 29 counties, and made 100 arrests.[2]
Sources
- California continues illegal cannabis crackdown, seizing more than 63,000 pounds of illegal cannabis in three months. California Department of Cannabis Control, 14 July 2026.
- California continues illegal cannabis crackdown, seizing more than 63,000 pounds of illegal cannabis in three months. Office of the Governor of California, 8 July 2026. Archived copy.