Several people were arrested as part of a three-state United States Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations operation.
Operation Southern Forest Trident took place in sections of Georgia and the Carolinas from May 1 to May 6. The purpose, according to officials, was to investigate and prevent illegal activity in national forests.
The USFS issued 33 federal citations in Georgia alone. The Department of Homeland Security detained 25 people in Stephens County, Georgia, who they claimed were in the country illegally. Of those, 14 had prior felony convictions, and one was identified as a cartel member.
The arrests and citations varied from traffic violations to possession of drug-related items.
Sheriff deputies also made arrests at the local level.
“Many of these areas aren’t frequently patrolled in most counties, and crime can go unnoticed. This behavior affects our families, as well as our social and physical environments,” said Stephens County Sheriff Rusty Fulbright. “We want people to enjoy nature, but please do it responsibly.”
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