Gallagher Urges FBI Crackdown on 7,000 Northern California Illegal Grow Sites

2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 20

Rep. James Gallagher asked FBI Director Kash Patel to target illegal marijuana operations in Northern California after Siskiyou County reported widespread grows using illegal immigrant labor.
Gallagher said the sites have blanketed rural properties with plastic hoop houses, drained groundwater, contaminated farmland and spread onto federal land including Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
His letter warned some operations may be financed or directed by Chinese organized-crime networks, citing opaque property ownership, a 2018 federal case tied to China funding and pesticides with Chinese-language labels.
Siskiyou County said it eradicated 332,871 illegal plants and seized 54,070 pounds of processed marijuana in 2025, while investigators identified at least 27 pesticide compounds at grow sites.
The appeal comes as federal and state authorities have already intensified cannabis enforcement in California, including 26 search warrants in Tulare, Kern and Los Angeles counties during the state's largest spring operation.