In what it's calling its largest operation to date, California's cannabis enforcement task force conducted a multi-agency operation in the Central Valley, leading to the seizure of 105,700 illicit cannabis plants and 22,057 pounds of processed cannabis worth $123.5 million.
Through the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (Task Force), during the week of May 5, 2025, more than 200 officers and staff from 15 state, local, and federal law enforcement partners coordinated a search warrant operation through Kern, Kings, and Tulare counties in an area of about 4,600 square miles. A total of 71 search warrants were served and nine firearms were confiscated. Throughout the course of the operation, numerous individuals were detained, and several arrests were made.
Officers found evidence of banned or restricted pesticides at eight of the locations.
In addition to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Cannabis Control, the co-leads of the task force, the following partners were instrumental in the success of this operation:
- California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
- California Department of Tax and Fee Administration
- California National Guard
- California State Parks
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Kern County Sheriff’s Office
- Kern County Probation Department
- Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
- San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
- Kings County Sheriff’s Office
- Kings County Code Enforcement
- Kings County District Attorney Investigators
- Tulare County Sheriff’s Office
- Tulare County Code Enforcement
Since its inception in 2022, the task force has served 500 search warrants against illicit cannabis operations, seizing and destroying more than $650 million in unlicensed cannabis. Operations have resulted in the eradication of more than 800,000 plants and over 220 tons of processed cannabis, along with the seizure of 190 firearms, more than $1 million in cash, and more than 50 arrests statewide.
