Officers raid unlawful hashish operations close to California state parks

California authorities raided unlawful hashish develop websites close to a pair of state parks, seizing greater than 5,200 crops and 14 firearms.

The state regulation enforcement motion, introduced Tuesday, occurred close to Saddleback Butte State Park within the Antelope Valley and Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park in Allensworth. Among the many unlawful firearms recovered had been three ghost weapons and two assault weapons.

“We’re dedicated to supporting the authorized hashish market in California,” Gov. Gavin Newsom mentioned in an announcement. “The illicit market endangers our communities, the environment, and California’s rising authorized and safer hashish business.”

A sequence of Instances investigations in 2022 discovered that the 2016 legalization of leisure hashish induced explosive progress in unlawful cultivation and widespread exploitation of staff.

In a information launch, the governor’s workplace mentioned Newsom had directed state businesses to “aggressively goal the organized legal enterprises concerned within the illicit hashish market,” and since January authorities have captured unlawful hashish merchandise value greater than $120 million.

Along with ending exploitation of staff, authorities mentioned they wish to stamp out the usage of unlawful pesticides and different practices that damage the surroundings, together with water high quality.

Federal authorities have taken related motion to halt illicit hashish operations affecting parklands.

On Tuesday, the U.S. legal professional’s workplace introduced the sentencing of a person for conspiracy to domesticate marijuana within the Shasta-Trinity Nationwide Forest.

Custodio Ibarra Nunez acquired 10 years in jail and should pay practically $18,000 in restitution.