Latest news with #DepartmentofCannabisControl
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Thousands of pot plants, a ton of cannabis found near Anaheim school: DCC
More than a ton of unlicensed marijuana and thousands more cannabis plants were seized from a 'large-scale illegal indoor cannabis cultivation site' that was located within 100 feet of an Anaheim school, authorities said. The Department of Cannabis Control said in a press release on Thursday that they cooperated with the Anaheim Police Department and city code enforcement for the seizure. The location of the seizure was not disclosed, nor was the identity of the school located nearby. 'The operation resulted in the seizure of 2,626 pounds of unlicensed cannabis and 4,551 cannabis plants, with an estimated retail value exceeding $4.3 million,' the release said. 'Two individuals were arrested and eight misdemeanor citations were issued.' This bust follows a similar raid in April. In that raid, also in Anaheim, $2.7 million worth of illegal product was recovered, DCC said. Not only was the cannabis unlicensed, DCC said, but it also could be the product of illegal labor and dangerous for consumption. 'Investigators also found significant quantities of over-the-counter pesticides and fertilizers, raising concerns about potential misuse,' officials said. 'Evidence indicating possible human trafficking was identified and is currently under investigation.' As a result, Anaheim Code Enforcement deemed the structure unsafe to occupy and turned off the building's electricity. 'Illegal cannabis operations put communities at risk, especially when operating near schools,' said DCC Deputy Chief Charles Smith. 'We are committed to protecting Californian by taking aggressive action against this type of activity – activity that undermines the legal market and public safety.' Anaheim isn't the only city that's seen busts of illicit pot in recent days. More than 10,000 illegal plants and large amounts of other marijuana products were seized from an Apple Valley company on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Yahoo
Illegal cannabis worth $20 million found in Oakland warehouse
The Brief $20 million in illegal cannabis found in Oakland warehouse Two firearms and illicit pesticides also found at the site More than 25,000 marijuana plants seized OAKLAND, Calif. - California Highway Patrol investigators working on a cargo theft investigation ended up with a very different discovery when they rolled up to an Oakland warehouse parking lot along the 1300 block of Fifth Street last Tuesday. The CHP officers were looking for two stolen trailers in a cargo theft investigation. They located the trailers in the parking lot, but it was a surprise when they entered the adjacent building. "When they arrived, these two trailers are immediately next to a large warehouse and part of our operation and search warrant is to allow us to enter the warehouse and make sure there aren't people inside," Sgt. Andrew Barclay, a CHP Golden Gate Division spokesperson, said. "When these investigators made entry into that building, they entered a room with what they believed at the time to be hundreds of marijuana plants." The Department of Cannabis Control said Monday they counted a total of 25,276 cannabis plants, valued at$20,852,700, hidden in the warehouse as part of a massive illegal marijuana cultivation operation. "The majority of the plants were relatively small, cause it was likely a clone factory. So it was intended to develop lots of plants for sale to others," Kevin McInerney, Northern Commander of the California Department of Cannabis Control said. McInerney says they also seized two firearms and found bags of illegal pesticides. "No pesticides labeled other than in English are allowed for us in the United States," McInerney said. "Plus, we don't know what the pesticides are." McInerney says the illicit market is large. According to the state's Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF), more than $254 million in unlicensed cannabis and products were seized during 2024, and Alameda County has been one of the most active sites in the state for illegal cannabis operation busts. "It completely undermines the legal market and the legal market provides products that are safe, have been tested, have been grown an illegal market where there are heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides," McInerney said. The Department of Cannabis Control is also concerned about links to organized crime. "All we're doing by making purchase of illegal cannabis, is we are funding more money to the Chinese money-laundering for the Mexican cartels," McInerney said. So far, no arrests have been made.
