California officials have seized nearly $476 million worth of illegal marijuana between April and June, according to Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, as part of a sweeping enforcement effort led by the state’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF).
The task force, co-led by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), confiscated more than 92 tons of illicit cannabis during the second quarter of 2025. Enforcement efforts included the eradication of over 413,000 illegal plants and the seizure of nearly 186,000 pounds of processed marijuana. Authorities also served 214 search warrants, confiscated 77 firearms, and made 93 arrests.
“Our teams continue to take an aggressive and proactive approach to eliminating unlicensed cannabis activities,” said DCC Director Nicole Elliott. “We will remain laser-focused on dismantling illicit cannabis operations until they are all permanently shut down.”
One of the most significant enforcement actions occurred in May, when 200 officers and personnel participated in a coordinated operation across 4,600 square miles of California’s Central Valley. That effort resulted in the eradication of over 105,000 cannabis plants, the seizure of 22,000 pounds of processed marijuana valued at $123.5 million, and the confiscation of nine firearms.
“Over the past quarter, UCETF conducted numerous highly strategic operations that significantly impacted the daily activities of illegal cannabis operators,” said Nathaniel Arnold, Chief of CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division.
The state’s crackdown on the unregulated market has ramped up since the formation of UCETF in 2022. Since 2019, officials have seized over 1.9 million pounds of illegal marijuana across more than 1,700 operations, with an estimated street value of $3.6 billion.
Governor Newsom framed the results as part of a broader effort to support California’s legal marijuana industry. “As a proof point of California’s commitment to the legal cannabis industry, the state seized over 92 tons of illicit cannabis product in the past three months alone,” said Newsom. “I thank the federal, state, and local partners who conducted these enforcement efforts for protecting consumers and supporting our legal cannabis market.”
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