An extensive illegal marijuana grow operation run by what law enforcement believes to be the Cartel Jalisco New Generation has been uncovered and dismantled in the Los Padres National Forest, as reported by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. According to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the illicit cultivation site housed approximately 2,500 marijuana plants and was valued at an estimated $2 million on the black market. The operation, which involved a variety of agencies, was eradicated last Friday.
The discovery was made in August 2025 by detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit, working with the Aviation Unit. Supporting the effort was the National Guard Counter Drug Task Force and the California Department of Justice’s Eradication and Prevention of Illicit Cannabis Team, who played a role in locating the cultivation operation, where they executed a search warrant with the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, as per the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
Law enforcement officials found not just plants at the site but also two make-shift living quarters, a man-made reservoir, and an irrigation system using miles of plastic hose. Detectives eradicated all the plants on-site and removed nearly a ton of trash and equipment associated with the grow. Detectives also discovered pesticides and fertilizers, including Metamidofos, a highly toxic insecticide that is banned in the United States.
In addition to the environmental damage, the operation was dodging Proposition 64's cultivation taxes, potentially up to $750,000, as noted in the sheriff’s office statement. This illegal cultivation inflicted significant, long-term damage on public lands intended for community use and enjoyment. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Detectives remain committed to identifying, dismantling, and eliminating such operations.
