State taskforce served 188 search warrants, seized 189,854 pounds of illicit cannabis during first calendar year
Regulators put a small dent in California’s estimated $8 billion black market during 2023, according to new figures released from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The state’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) served 188 search warrants in the past year resulting in 119 confiscated firearms, the destruction of 317,834 illicit plants and seizure of 189,854 pounds of flower valued at more than $312 million.
“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,” Department of Cannabis Control director Nicole Elliott said in a press release. “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.”
During Q4 2023, the department served 24 search warrants, eradicated 20,320 plants, seized 13,395 pounds of flower, 26 firearms and $35,195.25 in cash.
“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,” California Department of Fish and Wildlife director Charlton Bonham said. “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.”
The department also listed the Top 5 counties where the taskforce seized the most cannabis in terms of value:
Alameda $77,828,338.50
Siskiyou $70,747,875.00
Mendocino $48,073,113.00
Los Angeles $28,317,139.69
Kern $21,578,438.25
To date the taskforce has seized $317,578,792.29 in unlicensed cannabis through 218 search warrants, eradicated 347,321 plants and seized 128 firearms.
The taskforce was created by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022, as part of an effort to increase cannabis enforcement coordination between state, local and federal partners.