Holy smoke!
Los Angeles County authorities confiscated $1 billion of illegally grown marijuana last month — the largest takedown of its kind in the county, officials announced Wednesday.
The weed was seized from cartel-run illegal grow operations in the Antelope Valley during a 10-day sting in June, officials said.
The multi-law enforcement agency bust resulted in 131 arrests and netted 373,000 plants.
Last month’s takedown shuttered 205 illegal grow operations.
Despite the massive pot haul, many more illegal grows remain in the area that has seen an uptick in illicit operations during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office showed part of a cache of confiscated firearms on July 7, 2021. APCalifornia legalized recreational marijuana sales in January 2018.
The state’s legal cannabis industry is being hindered by the cartel-run operations, which also pose environmental threats.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger stand in front of confiscated firearms, as he points to a picture of seized marijuana.APWith Post wires
