California officials announced the seizure of illegal cannabis valued at $123.5 million during a large-scale operation across Kern, Tulare, and Kings counties. This operation, conducted the week of May 5, is reported to be the largest cannabis eradication effort in the state’s history.
During the operation, law enforcement officials executed dozens of warrants, resulting in multiple arrests and the confiscation of nine firearms. A total of 105,700 illegal cannabis plants and 22,057 pounds of processed cannabis were taken off the streets.
Nicole Elliott, director of the California Department of Cannabis Control, stated, “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.”
The operation involved collaboration among various agencies, including local sheriff’s offices, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the California National Guard, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Charlton H. Bonham, director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation in protecting natural resources and ensuring the integrity of the legal cannabis market.
Since 2022, the state’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force has reported eliminating $650 million in illegal cannabis, destroying 800,000 illegal plants, and seizing over $1 million in cash during related raids. This latest operation underscores the ongoing efforts to combat illegal cannabis cultivation and trafficking in California, aiming to uphold legal standards and protect the state’s legal cannabis industry.
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