Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Illegal Marijuana Plantation Raided
On Wednesday, May 27th, an NPS special agent, numerous protection rangers from Sequoia and Kings Canyon, Hawaii Volcanoes, and Yosemite National Parks, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, and California Department of Fish and Game wardens raided a marijuana grow site inside the southwestern boundary of Sequoia National Park. Due to the extremely steep, brushy terrain, lack of helicopter landing sites, lack of trails and access points, high daytime temperatures, and other safety and security concerns, rangers employed helicopter short-haul techniques to access the site. A tactical team, including a canine unit, was flown to an insertion site near the grow site. While a second team of rangers was being inserted into an opening in the vegetation some distance away, the first rangers spotted a man near the short-haul insertion site and took him into custody. He was linked to the marijuana patch and a firearm, flown out in a litter with a law enforcement attendant, and subsequently charged with several felonies. More than 2,400 plants were removed from the site, each valued at about $4,000. A Customs and Border Protection Blackhawk helicopter and crew took part in the operation, and also played a vital role in finding additional grow sites in the area. ICS was used to manage the incident.