 Thursday, July 15, 2021 L.A. Sheriff Says Drug Cartels Took Over Large Tracts Of The Desert During Pandemic To Grow Illegal Pot By Jeffrey Cawood  Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva appeared on Fox & Friends Weekend early Saturday morning to discuss his goal of eliminating illegal marijuana farms operated by drug cartels that set up shop in the desert during the pandemic. Even though recreational cannabis sales became legal in California in 2018, high taxes and strict regulations have resulted in a thriving black market.
Villanueva announced earlier this week that law enforcement had seized more than 16 tons of illegal pot during a 10-day operation that had an estimated street value of nearly $1.2 billion. The effort targeted the Antelope Valley in northern L.A. County, which is part of the Mojave Desert. During a press conference on Wednesday, the sheriff said he wanted to “send a clear message to the cartels and anyone doing illegal operations in the High Desert: your days are over, and we are coming for you.” He also said Asian and Armenian organized crime rings were involved in unlawful harvests in that area. This article is a Reader's Pass exclusive. Daily Wire members get access to tons of member-only articles including interviews, opinion and analysis, and an ad-free reading experience for just $4/month. Click "Continue Reading" to sign up or keep scrolling to get today's other headlines.  Florida Boat Owners Are Running Supplies To Embattled Cuban Protesters  Black Lives Matter Faces Massive Backlash Over ‘Deplorable,’ ‘Insane’ Statement On Cuba  Georgia Republicans Roar Back: Dominate Special Election For State Seat 
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