Processed Marijuana and Meth Seized on NFS Lands

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS OF DRUG
RELATED INCIDENTS
REGION 3
Coconino National Forest - On 3/12, a Special Agent (SA) <strong>and</strong> Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department Deputies responded to a remote
location on the Red Rock Ranger District to investigate a report of a large marijuana grow <strong>and</strong> Archeological Resource Protection Act
(ARPA) violations. The sites were located, but determined to be inactive. The SA determined the marijuana grow site was associated
with a Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization <strong>and</strong> had contained approximately 1,000 plants. It was estimated the site had been
harvested in 2004. In close proximity to the marijuana garden was a large Indian ruin <strong>and</strong> burial grounds. The burial grounds had been
thoroughly excavated <strong>and</strong> human remains were visible. A search of a camp associated with the marijuana garden resulted in the location
of numerous artifacts. It is suspected that the people who were tending to the marijuana garden were responsible for the ARPA violations.
On 4/4, an LEI investigation into ARPA violations on the Coconino <strong>and</strong> Prescott National Forests led to a series of search warrants that
were executed in Rimrock, AZ. As a result, several hundred artifacts, stolen government <strong>and</strong> private property including firearms <strong>and</strong> an
ATV, narcotics, <strong>and</strong> drug paraphernalia were seized. Four suspects were arrested <strong>and</strong> charged with state violations of theft of artifacts,
possession of stolen property, felon in possession of firearms, possession of methamphetamine <strong>and</strong> marijuana, <strong>and</strong> possession of a stolen
firearm. The residence bordered an elementary school <strong>and</strong> the suspects were also charged with possession of narcotics in a school zone.
One of the suspects faces additional jail time for violation of his probation. This case was a joint investigation between LEI <strong>and</strong> the
Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department.
Coronado National Forest - On 4/20, during the investigation for the origin <strong>and</strong> cause of the 150-acre Antonio Fire in the Patagonia
Mountains, 20 improvised backpacks containing suspected marijuana were discovered. The backpacks were in various stages of being
consumed by the wildl<strong>and</strong> fire. Each backpack weighed approximately 45 pounds. Four backpacks were recovered <strong>and</strong> seized as
evidence. The other 16 backpacks, estimated to contain 600 pounds of marijuana, were too hot to recover <strong>and</strong> were allowed to burn to
fully consume the suspected marijuana. The remaining four packs (approximately 172 pounds) were turned over to the DEA in Nogales,
AZ. The evidence in the area of origin of the Antonio Fire indicates that it was a human-caused fire, <strong>and</strong> most likely associated with the
suspects smuggling the narcotics.
On 12/30, an FS permittee on the Silver City Ranger District was checking the allotment near Bear Mountain when he observed people in
the area. He apparently contacted them during a drug deal <strong>and</strong> was murdered. The incident received wide attention in the media <strong>and</strong>
concern in the community regarding safety on NFS l<strong>and</strong>s.
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USDA Forest Service
Law Enforcement <strong>and</strong> Investigations