Operation "Save our Sierra" (SOS)

  • By John C. Heil III
Photograph of Beth and Gil in the field surrounded by marijuana plants.

Deputy Regional Forester Beth Pendleton and Gil Kerlikowske ("Drug Czar") tour a marijuana cultivation site on the Sierra National Forest.

The Director of the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy Gil Kerlikowske joined heads from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, California National Guard, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and other law enforcement and land management agencies on July 22 to announce Operation S.O.S. (Save our Sierra). Operation S.O.S. was an effort conducted throughout Fresno County including the Sierra National Forest which led to eradication of over 400,000 marijuana plants totaling a value of over $1.1 billion dollars. Additionally 88 arrests were made and 32 weapons seized.

Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies arrested several individuals believed to be affiliated with drug trafficking organizations that were involved in large scale marijuana growing operations. Operation S.O.S. consisted of over 300 personnel from 17 state, local and federal agencies.

“This was a highly successful joint operation,” said Special Agent in Charge Russ Arthur. “We have public and employee safety, and environmental issues caused by armed foreign nationals on our public lands. The environmental impacts of the gardens include complete removal of vegetation, toxic materials which poison and contaminate California's watersheds, and the death of wildlife. Many of these sites will never go back to their original state.”