Oakland’s $36.9 Million Cannabis Warehouse Raided
Largest Cannabis Bust in Bay Area: $36.9 Million Worth of Marijuana Seized in Oakland Warehouse Raid
Led by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) on Sept. 28, law enforcement raided an illegal marijuana farm at an Oakland warehouse and seized an estimated $36.9 million worth of cannabis, SFGATE reported.
In total, 41,082 cannabis plants and 1,841 pounds of processed cannabis were found, Janice Mackey, a CDFW spokesperson, told SFGATE.
Officers also seized three firearms at the scene, but no arrests were made.
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“This is one of the largest cannabis enforcement actions (in terms of retail value) in the Bay Area this year,” Ms. Mackey wrote in an email to SFGATE.
The warehouse is located approximately at the 300 block of Adeline Street near Interstate 880. The CDFW declined to provide an exact address.
To grow marijuana commercially, business owners must obtain the proper licenses and permits, even though marijuana is legal in California. The Oakland warehouse did not have the proper licenses to grow, Ms. Mackey said.
The CDFW said that this is an ongoing investigation and no other information is available at this time.
David Hafner of the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) told the SF Standard that the illegal cannabis market is still strong in California in spite of the legalization in 2016. The illegal cannabis sales in California were estimated to be worth over $8 billion last year compared to $5.4 billion in legal sales.
He said large illegal cannabis-growing operations are routinely found in the Bay Area, especially in Oakland and the surrounding areas.
In April, according to reporting from SF Standard, two raids on illegal Oakland marijuana-growing facilities uncovered almost 40,000 cannabis plants and over $36 million worth of cannabis.
One raid was located at 744 Kevin Court and the other at 4825 San Leandro Street. The raids were carried out in partnership with the CDFW.
The raid at the marijuana farm on Kevin Court resulted in the seizure of almost $20 million in value of cannabis and over $150,000 in cash and was the larger of the two April raids.
In January, in a two-day raid, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office uncovered almost $34 million worth of cannabis at two different Oakland warehouses. Authorities seized over 30,000 marijuana plants, 2,720 pounds of marijuana, and multiple firearms.
One raid took place in West Oakland at 1685 34th Street, and the second raid was in East Oakland at 1217 48th Avenue.
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office coordinated with the DCC on the “high-risk search warrants” at both facilities.
Lt. Miguel Félix Ibarra told SFGATE in an email, “This search warrant operation was part of a large-scale marijuana cultivation and tax evasion investigation.”
In 2021, ABC7 News reported the findings at an illegal growing warehouse. The authorities found plants ranging from small starters to mature three-foot plants as well as processed final product.
They found CO2 being pumped into the growing rooms and HEPA filters being used to filter the air going out, to hide the smell of the plants.
The authorities found an intricate infrastructure that included air filters, illegal wiring, generators, water, and fertilizers.
Even though the cannabis is being grown illegally, authorities believe it’s actually ending up on the legal retail market and being sold at local dispensaries, ABC7 News reported.
The CDFW and the DCC are co-chairs of the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF). The task force was created in 2022 by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to work towards disrupting the illegal cannabis market.
The task force is coordinated by the Homeland Security Division of Cal OES and includes more than two dozen local, state, and federal partners.
In October, the DCC released an announcement stating that the UCETF had seized more than $101 million in illegal cannabis during the third quarter of 2023. During enforcement operations, the UCETF seized 69 crime-linked firearms, which was a 363 percent increase compared to the previous quarter.
In the third quarter, the task force focused on larger targets, achieving similar results compared to previous quarters even though they served 35 percent fewer search warrants.
Since its inception, the UCETF has seized $295,284,220.94 in unlicensed cannabis through the serving of 203 search warrants. The task force has also eradicated 277,314 plants and seized 101 firearms.
What does the seizure of 41,082 cannabis plants and 1,841 pounds of processed cannabis reveal about the scale of illegal operations?
Ly sophisticated and organized” illegal cannabis operations. The raids resulted in the complete dismantling of the illegal grow operations and the arrest of several individuals involved.
The recent raid in Oakland is another significant blow to the illegal cannabis market in California. With an estimated value of $36.9 million, it is one of the largest enforcement actions in the Bay Area this year. The seizure of 41,082 cannabis plants and 1,841 pounds of processed cannabis highlights the scale of the illegal operations that continue to thrive despite the state’s legalization of marijuana in 2016.
Janice Mackey, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), emphasized the importance of obtaining proper licenses and permits for commercial marijuana cultivation. Even in a state where marijuana is legal, businesses must comply with regulations to ensure the safety and legitimacy of their operations. Unfortunately, the Oakland warehouse targeted in the raid did not have the necessary licenses to grow cannabis.
Law enforcement agencies are working diligently to combat the illegal cannabis market. The ongoing investigation surrounding the Oakland warehouse seizure demonstrates their commitment to identifying and dismantling illicit operations. While no arrests were made in this particular raid, the focus remains on disrupting and dismantling the networks that fuel the illegal cannabis market.
David Hafner, from the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), expressed concern over the persistence of the illegal cannabis market in California. Despite the legalization, illegal sales continue to thrive, with an estimated market value of over $8 billion last year, surpassing the $5.4 billion in legal sales. Large-scale illegal operations, such as the ones routinely found in Oakland and the surrounding areas, contribute significantly to this persistent black market.
This raid is not an isolated incident. Just a few months ago, additional raids on illegal Oakland marijuana-growing facilities resulted in the seizure of almost 40,000 cannabis plants and over $36 million worth of cannabis. The partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the CDFW have been instrumental in uncovering and dismantling these illegal operations.
In January, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office conducted a two-day raid that uncovered almost $34 million worth of cannabis at two separate Oakland warehouses. With the seizure of over 30,000 marijuana plants, 2,720 pounds of marijuana, and multiple firearms, these raids aimed to disrupt the illegal cannabis trade and bring those responsible to justice.
The persistence of large-scale illegal operations demonstrates the need for continued efforts to combat the black market. Cooperation between law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies like the DCC, and community members is essential to ensuring the success of these enforcement actions.
As the investigation into the recent Oakland warehouse raid continues, it serves as a reminder that illegal cannabis operations persist, even in states where marijuana has been legalized. By dismantling these illegal networks and prosecuting those involved, authorities strive to create a safer and more transparent cannabis market in California.
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