WASHINGTON, DC- DECEMBER 19 Metropolitan Police Departments narcotics unit and federal authorities seized approximately 80 pounds of methamphetamine, 9.6. kilograms of cocaine, 1.25 gallons of PCP. 23.5 pounds of marijuana, heroin and MDMA/ecstasy. The drugs were purchased and seized by the detectives in the investigation and were on display for a press conference at the Metropolitan Police Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on December 19, 2011. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy L.Lanier and members from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced today the arrests of 70 suspects for the possession and distribution of firearms and narcotics with a street value of more than $7.1 million. (Photo by Marvin Joseph/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Sacramento, California – In the largest operation of its kind to date, California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force led a sweeping crackdown on illegal cannabis cultivation across the Central Valley, seizing more than 105,000 cannabis plants and over 22,000 pounds of processed cannabis with an estimated street value of $123.5 million. The effort, carried out during the week of May 5, 2025, covered a vast area of approximately 4,600 square miles across Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties.
More than 200 law enforcement officers and personnel from 15 local, state, and federal agencies participated in the coordinated action, which involved serving 71 search warrants and resulted in multiple arrests and detentions. Authorities also confiscated nine firearms and found illegal pesticides at eight separate sites, posing serious threats to the environment and public health.
“This operation sends a clear message: California will not tolerate illicit cannabis activity that threatens public safety, the environment, and the integrity of the legal market,” said Nicole Elliott, Director of the California Department of Cannabis Control. “The scale of this enforcement effort reflects the strength of our partnerships and our shared commitment to holding illicit operators accountable.”
Governor Gavin Newsom, who established the task force in 2022, applauded the operation’s success and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to protecting California’s legal cannabis industry. “Let this be a reminder to all who grow cannabis illegally: we won’t tolerate the undermining of our legal industry and impacts to our environment,” he said. “I appreciate the multi-agency, cross-county efforts to take on the illicit market.”
Charlton H. Bonham, Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, emphasized the environmental stakes involved in these operations. “This operation represents the power of collaboration across agencies with a shared commitment to protecting our natural resources and preserving the integrity of California’s legal cannabis market.”
California’s regulated cannabis industry is the largest in the world and plays a vital role in the state’s economy, funding key programs in education, health, and environmental protection. The Department of Cannabis Control recently reported that the market is stabilizing, with licensed operations expanding and prices holding steady.
Since its formation, the task force has served 500 warrants, eradicated over 800,000 plants, seized 220 tons of processed cannabis, and removed 190 firearms from illegal operations. In 2024 alone, the task force seized $534 million worth of illicit cannabis products. The state continues to urge residents and businesses to support the legal cannabis market, which promotes environmental stewardship, product safety, and fair labor practices.
For more information on legal cannabis regulations and licensing, visit cannabis.ca.gov.
