Governor Gavin Newsom announced on 29 October 2026 that operations coordinated by the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force between July and September 2026 seized or destroyed 55,308 pounds (about 25,087 kg) of illicit cannabis and 108,226 plants across nine counties.[1][2] The task force put the third-quarter haul’s estimated value above $91 million, and officers made 14 arrests, confiscated nine firearms and seized $29,215 in cash.[1]
In Alameda County, officers seized more than 19,300 pounds and cut more than 38,500 plants at indoor sites in Hayward and Oakland, finding suspected organized-crime links, utility theft, electrical hazards and unregistered pesticides.[1] A three-day operation around Lancaster in Los Angeles County took about 16,760 pounds and more than 33,000 plants, and also recovered firearms and methamphetamine from sensitive desert habitat.[1]
Operations in Mendocino County took more than 4,400 pounds and nearly 7,000 plants, with illegal water diversions affecting sensitive watersheds.[1] A multiagency operation near Lake Oroville in Butte County took nearly 2,700 pounds and more than 5,300 plants and produced six arrests, alongside water diversion and electrical bypasses.[1]
The year so far
From January through September 2026, the task force seized or destroyed 139,293 pounds (about 63,182 kg) of illicit cannabis worth more than $230 million and eradicated 236,846 plants.[1][2] Since the task force was created in 2022, enforcement has seized or destroyed more than $1.47 billion in illicit cannabis, 896,514 pounds and 1,441,826 plants.[1]
