State authorities say a trio of November raids wiped out more than 58,000 illegal cannabis plants and nearly three tons of processed product, in what officials are calling a multimillion-dollar hit to California’s underground market. The estimated value of the haul lands between $56.5 million and $57 million, with teams targeting outdoor grows near Lancaster and indoor sites in Hayward and Harbor City.
According to the Governor’s Office, the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce led the November operations. State officials said the task force removed 58,358 plants and about three tons of processed cannabis. UCETF is co-chaired by the Department of Cannabis Control and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, according to the state release.
Outdoor Sweeps Near Lancaster, Warehouse Grows In Hayward
From November 18 to 20, California Department of Fish and Wildlife-led teams hit 52 unlicensed outdoor cultivation sites in the Lancaster area. The agency says officers eradicated 32,738 plants and destroyed 5,122 pounds of processed cannabis. They also documented 24 Fish and Game Code violations, seized six firearms and reported finding bottles labeled as carbofuran and methamidophos, pesticides that are banned in the U.S., at multiple locations.
In a separate move on November 18 in Hayward, officers served warrants at industrial warehouses that were allegedly operating as unlicensed indoor grows. They eradicated 6,157 plants and seized 193.6 pounds of processed cannabis, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Harbor City Raids Hit Residential Blocks
On November 24, the Department of Cannabis Control served three warrants at unlicensed indoor cultivation sites in Harbor City. Investigators reported eradicating 19,463 plants and seizing 277.2 pounds of processed cannabis, estimating the value of that product at about $16.5 million.
"Illegal cannabis operations, particularly those embedded in residential neighborhoods, pose unacceptable risks to California families," Department of Cannabis Control Director Nicole Elliott said in the state statement, according to the Governor’s Office.
Environmental And Safety Hazards Flagged By Officials
State officials say unlicensed cannabis operations can illegally divert water, contaminate soil and waterways with toxic pesticides, strip native vegetation and bring in invasive species that damage wildlife and local habitats. Conservation officers have also warned that unpermitted indoor grows often rely on stolen power and overloaded electrical systems, which can increase the risk of fires, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Part Of A Broader Statewide Crackdown
State leaders cast the November raids as one chapter in a months-long push by UCETF, which was formed in 2022 to coordinate enforcement among state, local and federal partners. Earlier this year, the Department of Cannabis Control reported that UCETF operations seized more than $316 million in unlicensed cannabis in the first quarter of 2025, underscoring the size of the illegal market that enforcement teams have been targeting, according to the Department of Cannabis Control.
Local Fallout And What Comes Next
In the Lancaster area, the operations led officers to detain or cite about a dozen people and forward cases to local prosecutors, while agencies cut utilities and red-tagged buildings for code violations. The California Statewide Law Enforcement Association praised the coordinated effort, noting that "These operations took place in just two of California’s 58 counties" and calling the raids a reminder of how widespread illegal cannabis activity remains.
State officials say UCETF will keep focusing on unlicensed cultivation sites that pose environmental and public safety risks, and that cross-agency enforcement remains a priority. Residents who suspect illegal cannabis grows in their neighborhoods are urged to contact local law enforcement or the Department of Cannabis Control.
