LOS ANGELES—An increase in law enforcement activity has resulted in a decrease in illegal marijuana cultivation sites in the county, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD).
The LASD has been cracking down on illegal marijuana farms—also known as “grows”—in the Antelope Valley, amid concerns of water theft and criminal activity among residents in Northern Los Angeles County communities.
According to the LASD Narcotics Bureau, the department has issued 160 marijuana cultivation related search warrants, arrested 107 suspects on misdemeanor charges, arrested seven people on felony charges, and seized 53 firearms and 15,000 pounds of harvested marijuana during the first four months of this year.
During last year’s drug bust, within the same time period, 387 search warrants were issued, 301 arrests were made, 105 firearms were recovered, and 62,000 pounds of harvested marijuana were seized.
The LASD collaborated with the California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and identified 350 outdoor illegal marijuana grows in the Antelope Valley this year, down from the 750 identified in 2021, Sheriff Alex Villanueva said.
“This reduction in cultivation sites is directly related to increased enforcement activity here in the Antelope Valley,” Villanueva said during a May 17 press conference.
