GOP Lawmaker Urges FBI Probe into Suspected Chinese-Tied Marijuana Operations in California

Rep. James Gallagher, R-Calif., has called on FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate alleged illegal marijuana cultivation operations in Northern California, citing concerns over environmental damage, depleted groundwater, and potential ties to Chinese organized crime. The congressman's letter, obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, highlights the growing problem in Siskiyou County.

Gallagher described how "entire rural properties are now covered with rows of makeshift, plastic-covered greenhouses, known as ‘hoop houses,’ where marijuana is cultivated using groundwater hauled in from nearby wells." He stated that these operations have significantly harmed local ranchers, reduced water supplies, and posed a risk of contamination to agricultural land. Estimates suggest as many as 7,000 illegal growers may be operating in the Mount Shasta Vista subdivision alone, with operations expanding onto federal lands such as the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office reported eradicating over 332,000 illegal marijuana plants and seizing more than 54,000 pounds of processed marijuana in 2025. Gallagher raised alarms about the potential involvement of Chinese organized-crime networks in financing or directing these grows.

"In Siskiyou County, investigators have traced cultivation properties to individuals residing outside the county, while those managing the grows often have no apparent ownership interest," Gallagher wrote. "These arrangements raise serious concerns about who is actually financing and controlling these operations and whether the ownership arrangements are intended to conceal their involvement."

Gallagher referenced a 2018 federal investigation in California where an illegal marijuana growing operation was allegedly funded with money from China. That investigation led to federal forfeiture actions involving more than 100 properties in the Sacramento area, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.

Further compounding the issue is the environmental impact, including the documented use of toxic pesticides at illegal grow sites. County findings indicate that at least 27 pesticide compounds have been identified, some of which are banned in the United States and bear Chinese-language labels, suggesting illegal importation. Officials have warned of potential risks to residents, law enforcement, and first responders from these chemicals.

The congressman's appeal to the FBI underscores a broader concern about the scale and potential sophistication of illegal marijuana cultivation and its alleged links to international criminal elements operating within the U.S.