California seizes over $316M worth of unlicensed cannabis products in Q1 2025

Enforcement efforts continue to focus on operations that ultimately support the licensed market and community safety

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that over $316M worth of illegal cannabis was seized in the first quarter of 2025 through the combined efforts of the Governor’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF), the Department of Fish & Wildlife (DFW), and the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). The continued success of California’s enforcement operations demonstrate the state’s commitment to public safety and the integrity of the legal cannabis market. 

Combined key highlights from January 1 to March 31, 2025 include:

• 212,681 illegal cannabis plants eradicated
• 120,307 pounds of illegal cannabis seized
• 99 warrants served
• 35 firearms seized
• 29 arrests
• $474,462 cash seized

“This task force continues to make impressive progress disrupting illegal cannabis operators and their supply chain,” said Nathaniel Arnold, Chief of the Law Enforcement Division for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). “UCETF’s accomplishments demonstrate the dedication of all agencies involved in the taskforce.”

UCETF seized a total of $67,258,232 worth of unlicensed cannabis during the first quarter of the year. The taskforce’s enforcement efforts also included:

• 19 search warrants served
• 77,923 illegal cannabis plants eradicated
• 40,747 pounds of illegal cannabis seized
• $330,808 cash seized

Agencies involved in UCETF’s first quarter enforcement actions include Department of Cannabis Control, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Park, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, California Department of Pesticide Regulation, Employment Development Department, California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, Oakland Fire Department, City of Oakland Police Department, Torrance Police Department, Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, and California Air National Guard.  

DFW’s enforcement efforts for Q1 2025 include:

• $97,476,308 worth of illegal cannabis seized
• 47 search warrants served
• 101,473 illegal plants eradicated
• 8,340 pounds of illegal cannabis seized
• 11 firearms seized
• 9 arrests
• $27,073 in cash seized

DCC’s enforcement efforts for Q1 2025 include:

• $151,752,966 worth of illegal cannabis seized
• 33 warrants served
• 33,285 illegal plants eradicated
• 71,220 pounds of illegal cannabis seized
• 24 firearms seized
• 20 arrests
• $116,581 incash seized

“We remain unwavering in our aggressive, strategic approach to reducing illicit cannabis activity,” stated Bill Jones, Chief of DCC’s Law Enforcement Division. “By staying ahead of the threats and swiftly dismantling illegal operations, we are driving up the cost of doing business for bad actors and delivering on our commitment to protect California’s communities and the legitimate industry.”

About UCETF:

In 2022, Governor Newsom created the UCETF to further align state efforts and increase cannabis enforcement coordination between state, local, and federal partners.  The enforcement actions protect consumer and public safety, safeguard the environment, and deprive illegal cannabis operators and transnational criminal organizations of illicit revenue that harms consumers and undercuts the regulated cannabis market in California.

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