“Illicit cannabis operations hurt our economy, legitimate cannabis operations, our environment, fish and wildlife, and public safety.  We are appreciative of all law enforcement efforts to investigate and dismantle illegal operations throughout California.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

SACRAMENTO- On January 27, 2026, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) announced that California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force, established by Governor Newsom in 2022 and co-chaired by CDFW and the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), conducted 48 operations in 2025 as part of the state’s efforts to dismantle illicit cannabis activities that pose risks to our environment and to public health and safety. These operations took place in 23 counties, involved more than 250 search warrants and had support from more than 60 partner agencies.

One of the largest and most impactful operations was in May 2025, when CDFW officers coordinated and led a comprehensive UCETF operation spanning Kern, Kings and Tulare counties. The operation involved more than 200 sworn officers and staff from 15 different agencies and resulted in the seizure and destruction of 105,700 illicit cannabis plants and more than 22,000 pounds of processed cannabis.

Learn more about the operations coordinated through UCETF in 2025, and what UCETF partners have achieved since the task force’s inception in 2022, here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/…/california-tops-