Los Angeles authorities seize historic amount of illegally grown marijuana


FILE - In this Sept. 17, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva comments during a news conference at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles. In a major reversal, Villanueva said Wednesday, May 19, 2021, that the names of deputies who shoot civilians will be released within 30 days of the incident, a newspaper reported. Villanueva's policy switch comes after the Los Angeles Times found that the LA sheriff's department was an outlier among some of California's largest law enforcement agencies, which promptly identify officers involved in shootings. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

FILE – In this Sept. 17, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva comments during a news conference at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 9:26 AM PT – Thursday, July 8, 2021

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department announced a historic illegal marijuana bust. On Wednesday, officials said in the past month authorities seized more than 16 tons of marijuana illegally grown outside of the city. The seizures totaled over $1 billion dollars in street value.

Los Angeles county Sheriff’ Alex Villaneuva said the illegal marijuana growing industry is rapidly increasing in size.

“Los Angeles County has seen a significant proliferation of illegal outdoor marijuana growths, especially in the Antelope Valley,” he stated. “Many of the groves have been directly connected to Mexico drug trafficking organization, and Asian and Armenian organized crime groups.”

The bust came five years after California voters passed Proposition 63, which allows legal growth possession and use of marijuana with certain restrictions. According to Villanueva, however, illegal marijuana growers are a grave threat to citizens.

“Threats by armed individuals against citizens living in close proximity to illegal marijuana groves and passerby’s on public road ways near groves sites have occurred on a regular basis and are increasing in frequency,” explained the Los Angeles sheriff.

Villanueva said he wanted to send a clear message to the cartels by telling them “we’re coming for you.”

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Amber Coakley
Author: Amber Coakley

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