War in the Woods: Combating The Marijuana Cartels On America's Public Lands

by John Nores, James Swan

Overview

War in the Woods tells the story of the real dirt, guts, and sometimes blood involved in a perilous job: eradicating the illegal pot plantations that are fast turning once-pristine corners of America's state and national parks, national forests, and wildlife reserves into environmentally ravaged war zones. Featuring tales of actual drug busts told through the eyes of a gutsy game warden on the front line, it is a chilling and unforgettable read.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781599219301
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/05/2010
Pages:	232
Sales rank:	115,872
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Lt. John Nores is a 17-year veteran California Fish and Game Warden who serves as the point man for California Department of Fish and Game anti-marijuana actions in the North Coast District. From June 2005 to the present, Nores has been Patrol Supervisor for three counties in the Central Coast of California. He currently conducts covert and overt operations and tactical surveillance and special operations training related to wildlife crimes, with a special focus on marijuana eradication. Under his leadership, more than 600,000 marijuana plants have been removed from Santa Clara County since 2003. In 2008, Nores received the Medal of Valor from Governor Arnold Schwarznegger for his leadership. James Swan has authored eight nonfiction books, penned a column for ESPNOutdoors.com, and recently produced a 66-minute documentary, "Endangered Species: California Fish and Game Wardens."

Table of Contents

Foreword viii

Introduction xvii

Chapter 1 Palassou Ridge: The MET Meets for the First Time 1

Chapter 2 Gunfight on Sierra Azul: One Man Down 17

Chapter 3 Montebello Foot Pursuit: Light Runners and a Patrol Dog Come to the Rescue 55

Chapter 4 Bohlman Road Gunfight: Déjà Vu Above the Quiet Suburbs 74

Chapter 5 Day Mountain and the Arroyo Hondo: The Toughest Find Yet 93

Chapter 6 Fay Creek Operation: Fish and Game Teams Take the Lead 126

Chapter 7 Sanborn Park: Imminent Danger Close to a Kids' Camp 153

Chapter 8 Environmental Restoration and Prosecution: Taking Back Our Wildlands 171

Afterword James A. Swan 183

Resources 195

Index 197

About the Authors 201

Editorial Reviews

As the former director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, I am well aware that drug trafficking organizations are using America's public lands to cultivate marijuana and are protecting their drug crops with dangerous booby traps. Brave law enforcement officers across the nation are confronting these traffickers, often at enormous personal risk. In War in the Woods, Lt. John Nores and James Swan describe in riveting detail the perils involved in eradicating marijuana in California. This is a compelling read that illuminates the dark side of criminal marijuana cultivation." —General Barry McCaffrey, ret., former Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President Bill Clinton "Eradicating illegal pot groves on our public lands is not for the faint of heart or the badge-wearing political types looking for a pat on the back. Read War in the Woods, and you will begin to truly appreciate game wardens, the rare and endangered species of brave men and women doing a thankless job they know matters." —Marshall Teague, actor ("Armaggeddon," "American Heiress," "Road House”) "A terrifying, fascinating book. Not only is it a heart-racing, adrenaline-pumping page-turner, but it will leave you trembling with rage at how your land and your water and your resources are being stolen and despoiled by drug dealers who are perfectly willing to take your life too, if you go into the woods. Kudos to the extraordinarily courageous game wardens for their work, and to James Swan for his chronicle of their efforts." —Jameson Parker, writer and actor ("Simon and Simon") "War in the Woods tells a fascinating if little known story about how California game wardens are involved with other federal and local policing agencies in cracking down on illegal marijuana farms in California's valuable wilderness. It makes sense to involve game wardens in such interagency teams. Few police officers have the woodsman skills and knowledge of the local terrain in order to conduct arrests in wilderness areas, but game wardens do.. .. If you like action, you'll love reading these stories. The stories are fast paced, fascinating and demonstrate just how dangerous and violent clandestine marijuana gardeners can be." —Gary Mauser, Professor Emeritus, Institute for Canadian Urban Research Studies, Simon Fraser University "War in the Woods brings to light the dangers and environmental devastation wreaked by illegal marijuana operations on public lands and puts you in the middle of the action as the 'Thin Green Line,' California's Fish and Game Wardens, fight bravely to protect our citizens and our fragile natural places." — Jared Huffman, Chair, California Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee “In nearly four decades of covering breaking news around the world, I’ve seen my share of hard men preparing to go into harm’s way. My blood started pumping when I began reading War in the Woods. The descriptions of tactical squads suiting up and checking the gear of their brother officers is the kind of action that prefaces mortal combat. The realization that these men were preparing for combat with invaders of our national forests, sometimes only a few hundred yards from unsuspecting Americans going about their daily lives, made my blood run cold. For three days in 480 B.C., 300 Spartans held off the entire Persian army at Thermopyale and became history’s most-cited example of the advantages of training, equipment and knowledge of the terrain to become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds. Today, only 200 California Fish and Game Wardens are fighting to protect America’s public lands from drug dealers looking for their share of the estimated $38.5 billion dollar marijuana business. Today, they’re California’s Spartans, and War in the Woods tells their story—in their words." —Jim Shepherd, editor/publisher, The Outdoor Wire

From the Publisher