Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

$1.19 billion worth of marijuana seized in massive drug bust in California
CBS News ^ | JULY 8, 2021 | TORI B. POWELL

Posted on 07/08/2021 10:59:31 AM PDT by BeauBo

Authorities in Southern California have seized more than 16 tons of marijuana worth an estimated $1.19 billion, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said Wednesday. The 10-day sting is the largest eradication of illegal marijuana cultivations in the history of the department.

The operation, which began on June 8, resulted in 22 felony arrests, 109 misdemeanor arrests, and 19 arrests from water theft enforcement teams, officials said. More than 200 locations were served with search warrants. Nearly 375,000 marijuana plants and 33,480 pounds of harvested marijuana were seized, along with 65 vehicles, 180 animals and $28,000.

Officials say they believe international cartels are behind the illegal large-scale marijuana farms.

"We're talking about the cartels," Lancaster, California, Mayor Rex Parris said at a Wednesday press conference. "We are not talking about mom and pop people selling marijuana that they grew in their backyard. This is the cartels. We are very very close to driving down the freeway and seeing bodies hanging from the overpasses. That is what's coming."

While California legalized the recreational use of marijuana in 2018, illegal grows of the crop have been on the rise in the state. Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Narcotic Bureau identified over 500 illegal marijuana cultivations in 2021, increasing from the 150 identified in 2020, according to a June statement. Detectives found that the average size per cultivation at farms increased to 15 greenhouses, up from eight per farm in the year prior.

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: cannabis; cartel; localnews; marijuana; pot; wod
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-66 next last


1 posted on 07/08/2021 10:59:31 AM PDT by BeauBo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

Likely less than a day’s worth of drugs moving across the southern border ...


2 posted on 07/08/2021 11:01:21 AM PDT by glennaro (Dennis Prager: "Until it's safe" means "Never")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

So much for keeping the drug trade out of the cartels’ hands. Lefties and liberals are not even as smart as rocks.


3 posted on 07/08/2021 11:03:54 AM PDT by DennisR (Look around - God gives countless clues that He does, indeed, exist.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: glennaro

UP IN SMOKE......


4 posted on 07/08/2021 11:04:04 AM PDT by ncfool (Joe Biden USSA.. United Socialist state of aMeriKa...... 11.3.2020 - President in waiting Kama-la-la)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: glennaro

And the new seedlings will be in the ground by the weekend...


5 posted on 07/08/2021 11:04:28 AM PDT by jagusafr ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

of illegal marijuana cultivations

I didn’t know that.

So, in California you can have legal and illegal marijuana?

Must be a tax thing.

5.56mm


6 posted on 07/08/2021 11:05:10 AM PDT by M Kehoe (Quid Pro Joe and the Ho need to go.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

>>While California legalized the recreational use of marijuana in 2018, illegal grows of the crop have been on the rise in the state.

I was told that it would disappear and so would the cartels


7 posted on 07/08/2021 11:05:41 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Lean on Joe Biden to follow Donald Trump's example and donate his annual salary to charity.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

They were just going green. Cultivating plants that suck that dangerous green house gas , CO2, out of the air. What’s the problem?


8 posted on 07/08/2021 11:06:53 AM PDT by BipolarBob (Tagline for rent. $end money up front. But I won't pimp blogs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

If CA was not so hot for tax revenue, they would just let everyone grow their own.

But there are strident restrictions in most counties that preclude outdoor growing.

Some counties DO allow it, most do not.


9 posted on 07/08/2021 11:09:42 AM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo
This is what open borders.
10 posted on 07/08/2021 11:09:51 AM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire. Or both.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

Photos.....

Part of the “Green” New Deal.

A pretty shade of green like the 10% of the green cash payout The Big Guy in the White House was going to get until some do-gooder stuck his nose into the deal.


11 posted on 07/08/2021 11:11:10 AM PDT by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a fool in paradise
Yeah I thought the main argument for legal marijuana was that it cut the cartels out of the equation.

Also, is it just me or does that cash figure seem a little light?

12 posted on 07/08/2021 11:13:08 AM PDT by Bearshouse
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: ncfool

Up in Smoke....

Official Notice: The Public Is Invited to the Controlled Burn but Must Pay a $50 Fee For Admission To Be Downwind.


13 posted on 07/08/2021 11:13:49 AM PDT by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: glennaro

You load 16 tons and what do you get?
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don’t you call me, cuz I can’t go
I owe my soul to the company store...


14 posted on 07/08/2021 11:14:24 AM PDT by glorgau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: glennaro
more than 16 tons of marijuana worth an estimated $1.19 billion

Tennessee Ernie Ford hit song....

You load 16 tons, what do you get?

Another day older and deeper in debt

St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go

I owe my soul to the company store

15 posted on 07/08/2021 11:17:08 AM PDT by frank ballenger (You have summoned up a thundercloud. You're gonna hear from me. Anthem by Leonard Cohen)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo

The state-financed pot copter made its yearly flight over my farm a couple days ago. 3 years ago they were curious about some huge castor been plants, they spent five minutes circling and circling before they figured it out.

If they spot anything then a ground team soon gets a faxed search warrant, and then a half dozen unmarked SUVs with tinted windows come screaming up your farm driveway.

I actually worry about them making a mistaken conclusion. If they were dumb enough to actually ID my garden plants as pot, then they could kick my door in, hand cuff me, shoot my pets, and steal my computer. All before double checking that it was actually pot.


16 posted on 07/08/2021 11:17:28 AM PDT by Doctor Congo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mariner; NobleFree

Behaviors changed to worse?

Why not legal in the same state?


17 posted on 07/08/2021 11:22:24 AM PDT by Does so (The Media is the enemy of the people...Trial lawyers close behind...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: M Kehoe

If course! Why do you think states have legalized pot?

In Nebraska pot is illegal but they have a tax stamp. Get caught in possession over a certain amount and you get a fat tax fine and the state has a bonfire.


18 posted on 07/08/2021 11:23:28 AM PDT by bigbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: BeauBo
Some people say you capture a whole lot of weed
Some fine sensimilla with no stems and seed
You catch ‘em all legal from an eye on the sky
A whole lot of people ain’t gonna get high

You seize 16 tons, what do you get?
A bunch of small players in your LEO net
St. Peter don’t you call ‘em ‘cos they can’t go
They owe their souls to the cartel store

19 posted on 07/08/2021 11:26:56 AM PDT by Publius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bearshouse
Yeah I thought the main argument for legal marijuana was that it cut the cartels out of the equation.

The difference this time is the cartels are now up against California's dem taxation cartel, hence the enforcement action.

20 posted on 07/08/2021 11:31:22 AM PDT by usurper ( version )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-66 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson