LANCASTER – On October 16, 2025 the Lancaster Police Department announced the results of a four-day operation to crack down on smoke shops selling unregulated, unsafe, and illegal products.  The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) assisted the Lancaster Police Department, along with California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, Los Angeles County Public Health, and Los Angeles County Probation (K-9 Unit), in a citywide enforcement operation.

During the operation in which 20 inspections were conducted:

• 17 store citations were issued,
• 168 boxes of illicit cigarette and other tobacco products were seized,
• 21 boxes of unlicensed cannabis products were seized.

The joint enforcement effort led to the removal of hundreds of dangerous and unregulated items—including psychoactive hemp products, flavored tobacco, kratom, nitrous oxide canisters, and illegal weapons. Many of these products were packaged to look like candy or snacks, putting children and teens at risk.

“These types of joint operations are imperative to keeping our young people and the community safe.  Businesses have a responsibility to follow the laws that regulate them.  Those laws are in place for a reason.  Thank you to the law enforcement officers who conducted these inspections.  Seventeen out of 20 stores inspected, means these operations are necessary,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.