Between May 1, and May 6, 2026, the United States Forest Service (USFS) Law Enforcement and Investigations division conducted criminal interdiction operations in Berkeley and Charleston Counties in South Carolina, Stephens and Habersham Counties in Georgia, and Burke County in North Carolina. The goal of the operation was to deter and investigate criminal activities taking place on national forest lands.
Between May 3, and May 5, 2026, law enforcement officers and special agents with the USFS coordinated with Stephens County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators, Georgia State Patrol Post 7 Troopers, Georgia DNR Game Wardens, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers, and FBI North Georgia Major Offenders Task Force to conduct a joint effort in deterring and investigating crime on national forest lands inside Stephens County. During the operation, multiple safety checks were conducted on roads entering and leaving forest service lands as well as concentrated patrols in and around the same areas.
During the operation, the USFS issued 33 federal citations for offenses ranging from traffic-related offenses to possession of drug related objects and possession of illicit controlled substances. GA DNR issued four warnings and six citations related to hunting and fishing violations. GSP issued 58 warnings and 36 traffic-related citations. DHS arrested 25 individuals in Stephens County who were residing illegally in the country, 14 of whom had prior felony convictions and one confirmed cartel member…