California’s Unified Hashish Enforcement Taskforce (UCETF) seized almost 190,000 kilos of illicit hashish in the course of the taskforce’s first calendar yr of operation, and the haul was valued at almost $312 million, in keeping with a press release. Legislation enforcement additionally seized 119 illegally possessed firearms and oversaw the eradication of virtually 318,000 hashish vegetation.
“California is successfully reducing the unlawful hashish market by leveraging the strengths and information of over 20 state businesses and departments alongside our native and federal companions. The UCETF’s progress in 2023 displays California’s ongoing dedication to disrupting and dismantling unlawful hashish exercise. I look ahead to working with all our companions in 2024 to construct on this progress.” — Nicole Elliott, Director of the Division of Hashish Management (DCC)
The UCETF was launched in mid-2022 and is co-chaired by the Division of Hashish Management and the California Division of Fish and Wildlife, whereas the Homeland Safety Division of Cal Workplace of Emergency Providers coordinates the taskforce’s efforts.
Officers additionally famous the 5 California counties that skilled essentially the most enforcement actions and a greenback estimate for the quantity of hashish seized:
- Alameda County, about $77,828,338.50 price of hashish seized
- Siskiyou, about $70,747,875.00 price of hashish seized
- Mendocino, about $48,073,113.00 price of hashish seized
- Los Angeles, about $28,317,139.69 price of hashish seized
- Kern, about $21,578,438.25 price of hashish seized
California Division of Fish and Wildlife Director Charlton H. Bonham mentioned the taskforce “hit the bottom operating” in 2023 with year-round enforcement actions that spanned all the state.
“We’ve despatched a powerful message that unlawful operations that hurt our pure sources, threaten the protection of employees, and put client well being in danger don’t have any place in California,” Bonham mentioned. “Whereas there may be extra work to be executed, we made progress final yr and I look ahead to going additional alongside our county, state, and federal companions.”
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