California Seizes 139,293 Pounds of Illicit Cannabis Worth Over $230 Million in 2026, Newsom Announces
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced in Sacramento on October 29 that state authorities have seized or destroyed 139,293 pounds of illicit cannabis valued at more than $230 million so far in 2026, and that enforcement through September 2026 had also eradicated 236,846 cannabis plants. The figures came in a Governor's Office release on the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF).
The Governor's Office said the UCETF targets illegal operations that threaten public safety, damage California's natural resources and undermine the state's regulated cannabis industry. Since Governor Newsom established the task force in 2022 to strengthen coordination among state, local and federal agencies, enforcement has resulted in more than $1.47 billion in estimated illicit cannabis seized or destroyed, totaling 896,514 pounds, and 1,441,826 cannabis plants eradicated.
"California is taking action against the illegal cannabis operations that put our communities at risk, damage our environment and undermine businesses that play by the rules," Governor Newsom said. "Through strong partnerships across state and local government, we're disrupting these operations and protecting Californians."
In the third quarter of 2026, from July through September, UCETF-coordinated operations seized or destroyed 55,308 pounds of illicit cannabis, eradicated 108,226 plants and removed more than $91 million in estimated illicit cannabis from the market, with 14 arrests, nine firearms confiscated and $29,215 in cash seized, across nine counties.
Third-quarter operations uncovered threats associated with large-scale illegal cultivation, including suspected organized criminal activity, illegal water diversions, hazardous pesticides, utility theft, electrical bypasses and serious fire hazards, and investigators identified indicators of potential labor exploitation during one investigation.
In Alameda County, authorities seized more than 19,300 pounds of illicit cannabis and eradicated more than 38,500 plants at indoor cultivation sites in Hayward and Oakland, identifying suspected connections to broader organized criminal networks along with utility theft, electrical hazards and unregistered pesticides. In Los Angeles County, a three-day operation in the Lancaster area seized approximately 16,760 pounds and eradicated more than 33,000 plants, and investigators recovered firearms and methamphetamine and documented environmental concerns affecting sensitive desert habitat.
In Mendocino County, coordinated operations seized or destroyed more than 4,400 pounds and eradicated nearly 7,000 plants, with illegal water diversions and other environmental violations affecting sensitive watersheds and habitat. In Butte County, a multiagency operation near the Lake Oroville State Recreation Area seized or destroyed nearly 2,700 pounds, eradicated more than 5,300 plants and made six arrests, identifying illegal water diversion, electrical bypasses and other environmental and public-safety concerns.
"Large-scale illegal cannabis operations are inherently unsafe for our communities and can be incredibly damaging to California's ecosystems — our natural legacy," said California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Director Meghan Hertel. "UCETF provides vital resources, strengthens coordination among partners and reinforces our shared commitment to California's ongoing work to dismantle these illegal activities while protecting Californians and the state's unique natural resources."
"Illicit cannabis in California is a complex problem, but one that we will not stop taking enforcement action against," said California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) Director Clint Kellum. "We will always fight to eradicate illegal cannabis because it makes way for the legal cannabis market to thrive and helps ensure Californians have access to safe, trusted product."
The task force is co-chaired by the DCC and CDFW and coordinated by the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, bringing together state and local agencies with expertise in law enforcement, cannabis regulation, environmental protection, taxation, labor standards, emergency response and public safety. The Governor's Office said California will continue working with its partners to disrupt illegal cannabis operations, protect communities and natural resources, and support a legal cannabis market that operates under the state's rules.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：加州州长办公室2026年10月29日统一大麻执法工作队（UCETF）执法通报所附官方照片，执法人员查获的温室非法大麻种植点。加州州长办公室（Office of the Governor）官方发布。 / Official photo released with the California Governor's Office October 29, 2026 UCETF enforcement release: an illicit cannabis greenhouse grow site. Office of the Governor, State of California.
