Authorities Eradicate 20,000 Illegal Cannabis Plants Across California

In a crackdown on illegal cannabis cultivation, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the results of a recent operation targeting unlawful growing operations on public lands across the state. Over the past two months, CDFW's Marijuana Enforcement Team, along with local agencies and the U.S. Forest Service, have raided six sites hidden within sensitive habitats and watersheds.

The raids, prompted by reports from the public, including a hunter scouting for deer, have led to the arrest of 8 suspects on suspicion of multiple offenses, such as depositing hazardous substances on public lands and causing environmental harm. During the operations, authorities seized highly toxic pesticides, illegally possessed firearms, and removed over 2,300 pounds of trash and infrastructure.

In total, the raids have resulted in the eradication of more than 21,000 cannabis plants, which the agency estimates would have consumed 9.5 million gallons of water over their growing cycles. Additionally, 150 pounds of processed cannabis for sale were also seized. According to the CDFW, the evidence suggests that these illegal grows were operated by transnational criminal organizations.

"When criminals steal or destroy the natural resources that support California's extraordinary biodiversity, we are committed to stopping them -- and we have the teams in place to do that, no matter how far into the wilderness they try to hide their operations," said Charlton Bonham, the Director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife.