Illegal Cultivation Crackdown Nets 60k Cannabis Plants In Two Weeks

From October 11 to 24 the San Bernardino, California Sheriffs Department has seized more than 60,000 cannabis plants, 9,000 pounds of processed cannabis, and destroyed 319 greenhouses as part of “Operation Hammer Strike.” According to the Sheriff’s Office, 53 people total were arrested in the separate busts, which are in their eighth week.

Over the last two weeks, investigators involved in the crackdown on illegal cannabis cultivation sites seized eight grams of cannabis concentrate, 10 firearms, 8.9 grams of methamphetamine, and $118,000 in cash. One extraction lab was also disassembled along with six indoor cultivation sites in the law enforcement action, which included 46 locations throughout San Bernardino County.

None of the targets were in compliance with neither California’s adult-use cannabis law nor county laws, which prohibits commercial cannabis activity, the Sheriff’s Office said in the press releases.

Over the last eight weeks, the sheriff’s office has served 183 search warrants, made 238 arrests, and seized 186,916 cannabis plants, 38,911 pounds of processed cannabis, 8 grams of concentrate, 8.9 grams of methamphetamine, 57 guns, and $563,449.00 in cash, which the Sheriff’s Office described as “illicit narcotic sales proceeds.” Operation Hammer Strike has also eradicated and taken down a total of 1,022 greenhouses, including five locations with illegal electrical bypasses, and two THC extraction labs.

Individuals arrested in association with the cultivation operations are being charged with the cultivation of cannabis over six plants; possession of a dangerous drug; manufacturing a controlled substance; electrical theft; possession for sales of marijuana, and possession of a dangerous drug while armed.