SEKI: Marijuana Eradicated From More Than 70 Illegal Sites

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Marijuana Eradicated From More Than 70 Illegal Sites

From July 12th through 25th, NPS law enforcement personnel participated in intensive marijuana interdiction efforts with 15 other agencies under Operation S.O.S. (“Save Our Sierra”), organized by the Fresno County Sheriffs Office. Northern portions of Kings Canyon National Park are located within Fresno County, as well as a highway corridor connecting two frontcountry areas of the park. During the operation, over 400,000 marijuana plants were eradicated from 71 illegal cultivation sites. Most cultivation sites were located on public lands and tied to Mexican drug trafficking organizations. Law enforcement also made over 80 arrests, served five warrants, confiscated 32 weapons, and seized 46 pounds of processed marijuana, three vehicles, and over $40,000 cash. Drug trafficking and associated support activity have been detected with increasing frequency by rangers in Kings Canyon in recent years. Much of this illegal activity has occurred along the Highway 180 corridor between the Grant Grove and Cedar Grove Subdistricts in Kings Canyon. A total of 29 NPS law enforcement personnel took part in the operation, including rangers from Yosemite NP, a number of special agents from the Investigative Services Branch, and the Pacific West Region Special Event and Tactical Team. NPS personnel conducted 24-hour highway interdiction during the course of the two week operation, disrupting drug trafficking supply lines during what is considered peak marijuana season. Over 40 arrests were made by NPS personnel. One known cultivation site in adjacent Sequoia National Park was abandoned due to nearby pressure and activity by law enforcement.

Operation S.O.S. took a multi-tiered approach to combating the marijuana problem, focusing on education, investigation, prosecution, eradication, and restoration. A media tour was permitted during the clean-up of a site by the High Sierra volunteer trail crew. Director Gil Kerlikowske of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the nation’s “Drug Czar”, was also present and was briefed on the detrimental environmental impacts of the grow sites on federal lands. Working on this operation strengthened interagency ties between NPS and other law enforcement agencies involved in marijuana eradication. This is the second year Sequoia-Kings Canyon has participated in a major, interagency eradication operation.