Illegal Pot Industry Crackdown Seizes $29.9M Across Southern California

NORTHRIDGE, CA — Authorities seized more than $29 million in illegal pot products in raids aimed at cracking down on California’s unregulated market in cannabis, state officials announced Tuesday.

The raids between July 17 and Aug. 7 targeted five distribution locations, two delivery operations, and 10 dispensaries in southern California. One raid resulted in nearly $20 million in illegal products from a single distribution site in Glendale, according to the state Department of Cannabis Control.

Seventeen search warrants were issued to operations suspected of retail or distribution that is not permitted under state law.

The Department of Cannabis Control, which licences and regulates commercial cannabis activity, led the raids along with local law enforcement agencies as part of a wider effort to crack down on prohibited trade in the substance. In addition to cannabis, items seized included 6,121 pounds of cannabis vape cartridges and 100 pounds of psilocybin mushrooms, according to the cannabis control department.

The DCC is co-lead of the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce established by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The task force includes more than two dozen local, state, and federal partners such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Office of Emergency Services Homeland Security Division.

According to the Department of Cannabis Control, search warrants were issued in the following cities: Burbank (two warrants, distribution and delivery); Fullerton (one warrant, dispensary); Glendale (three warrants, distribution); Long Beach (two warrants, dispensaries); Los Angeles (one warrant, delivery); North Hollywood (two warrants, dispensaries); Rialto (one warrant, dispensary); Sun Valley (one warrant, distribution); Westminster (four warrants, dispensaries).

Seizures included:

• 6,472 pounds of illegal cannabis flower
• 1,145 pounds of illegal cannabis concentrates
• 5,585 pounds of illegal cannabis edibles
• $1.2million in cash
• 17 gold bars (16 one-ounce bars and one 100-gram bar)
• 100 pounds of illicit psilocybin mushrooms