California authorities raided illegal cannabis grow sites near a pair of state parks and seized more than 5,200 plants and 14 firearms.
The state law enforcement action, announced Tuesday, took place near Saddleback Butte State Park in Antelope Valley and Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in Allensworth. Among the illegal firearms recovered were three ghost guns and two assault weapons.
“We are committed to supporting the legal cannabis market in California,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement. “The illicit market endangers our communities, our environment, and the growing legal and safe cannabis industry in California.”
A series of Times investigations in 2022 found that the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2016 led to explosive growth in illegal cultivation and widespread exploitation of workers.
In a news release, the governor's office said Newsom had ordered state agencies to “aggressively target organized criminal enterprises involved in the illicit cannabis market,” and since January authorities have seized more than $120 million worth of illegal cannabis products.
In addition to ending worker exploitation, officials said they want to eradicate the use of illegal pesticides and other practices that harm the environment, including water quality.
Federal authorities have taken similar steps to stop illicit cannabis operations affecting parks.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced the sentencing of a man for conspiracy to grow marijuana in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
Custodio Ibarra Núñez received 10 years in prison and must pay almost $18,000 in restitution.
