North Of $312M In Illegal Marijuana Seized, 318K Plants Eradicated In Just One Year In California

California's Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) seized more than $312 million worth of illegal marijuana during its first calendar year of operations, a newly released report reveals. 

"California is effectively decreasing the illegal cannabis market by leveraging the strengths and knowledge of over 20 state agencies and departments alongside our local and federal partners," stated Nicole Elliott, director of the Department of Cannabis Control. "The UCETF's progress in 2023 reflects California's ongoing commitment to disrupting and dismantling illegal cannabis activity. I look forward to working with all our partners in 2024 to build on this progress."

2023 Operations Highlights 

The results of UCETF's FY 2023 enforcement actions include: 

• Seizure of 190,000 pounds of illegal cannabis. 
• Close to 318,000 plants were destroyed. 
• Seizure of 199 illegally possessed firearms. 
• 188 search warrants were served. 
• Seizure of $223,809. 

"Since its inception in late 2022, California's Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce has hit the ground running with year-round operations that spanned from the Oregon state line all the way down to San Diego," CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham said in a statement. "We've sent a strong message that illegal operations that harm our natural resources, threaten the safety of workers, and put consumer health at risk have no place in California. While there is more work to be done, we made progress last year and I look forward to going further alongside our county, state, and federal partners."

In October 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom formed the UCETF to crack down on illegal marijuana operations, which have been an ongoing problem for years. The task force is guided by the Department of Cannabis Control's (DCC) Law Enforcement Division and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and coordinated by the Homeland Security Division of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). The task force includes more than two dozen local, state and federal partners working together to disrupt the illegal cannabis market.

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