Recent operations by California's Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) have resulted in the seizure of nearly $20 million worth of illegal cannabis products in the East Bay area. Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the task force seized over $19 million of illegally grown and manufactured cannabis during concurrent operations in Oakland and Hayward.
"I'm proud of the recent work by our cannabis task force, seizing a staggering $19.2 million in illicit cannabis from across the Bay Area," stated Governor Gavin Newsom. "These operations are imperative in both bolstering California’s legal cannabis market and protecting consumers from unregulated and dangerous products."
In Oakland, an operation led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) seized more than $12.6 million in illegal cannabis products. The confiscated items included over 7,000 illegal cannabis plants valued at $6.1 million, 1,200 pounds of processed cannabis flower worth $2 million, 581 pounds of concentrated cannabis valued at $4.4 million, and 6,250 disposable vape cartridges worth over $41,000.
During this operation, CDFW discovered an illegal facility containing a carbon dioxide (CO2) and Butane Honey Oil (BHO) laboratory. Such facilities pose significant risks due to the flammable nature of butane honey oil. The hazardous lab was safely dismantled by Oakland HAZMAT and DTSC teams.
"This successful operation, led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, underscores the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce’s dedication to safeguarding public health," said Nathaniel Arnold, Chief of Law Enforcement at CDFW.
Simultaneously in Hayward, another enforcement action led by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), with support from various agencies including CDFW and CDTFA, resulted in seizing 4,018 pounds of illegal cannabis plants and processed flower valued at $6.6 million. Local code enforcement took steps for community safety by red-tagging the location and disconnecting electricity.
"UCETF continues to leverage the knowledge and experience of its partners to deliberately reduce the size of the unlicensed cannabis market," commented Bill Jones, Chief of Law Enforcement at DCC.
The UCETF was established in 2022 under Governor Newsom's directive to enhance coordination among state efforts against illegal cannabis activities. These actions aim to protect consumer safety while depriving illicit operators of revenue that undermines California's regulated market.
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